Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts

2.21.2011

BabyKicks Organic Fitted Review



I'm always on the search for cloth diapers to try with features that I love. I have a strong love for fitted diapers with wool, especially during the day, because I want Elijah to wear something that is breathable and natural. Some other features that I love are of course one size diapers, because they will fit my son until potty training, and side snaps because my 19 month old babe is always on the go and keeping him down is hard enough as it is, side snaps are a bit easier to fasten when he's rolling over. I was thrilled to receive a BabyKicks Organic Fitted diaper to test out because it has all these features and then some.


Fit: This diaper is very trim, which I love, especially since I pair fitted diapers with wool which can add some bulk. The side snaps create a snug fit around Eli's waist, and since this is a one size diaper there are snaps to change the rise setting.
Ease of use: I love the different colored snaps on this diaper, they make it super easy to use! I don't have t count or guess, I just snap the snaps with their coordinating colors. This diaper has a pocket, so you need to stuff the insert in before use, but I always do that after washing and drying anyway. I love when fitteds have pockets because you can add more absorbency if needed.

Performance: This diaper is made of organic cotton and hemp. Hemp is the most absorbent material, so this diaper can hold a lot. I Eli doesn't usually do very well with fitteds overnight anymore (he is a heavy wetter and gets really fussy when he can feel the moisture), but this diaper help up pretty great at night. It's the perfect diaper for when e are out running errands and there's an extended amount of time when I can't change him right away. Overall this fitted diaper has gone above and beyond my expectations.

Value: The BabyKicks Organic Fitted retails for $19.95. This is pretty standard for an organic fitted diaper. Some organic fitteds that are not one-size diapers cost this much, so that fact that this diaper will last from birth to potty training helps with the value. If you wanted to diaper your baby using BabyKicks exclusively, you could have a 12-diaper stash for around $240. 

We love our BabyKicks Organic Fitted diaper. You can use this fitted diaper as a training pant too, which is an added bonus in my eyes.

You can purchase your own BabyKicks Organic Fitted diaper on their website!



Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ

Jessica

6.03.2010

Elemental Shop Review & Giveaway

I put a lot of thought into all of the things I buy. I like to think about the big picture. How were the things I buy made? What kind of impact has it made on the environment? Is it safe for Elijah and I? Non-organic cotton is heavily chemically processed so when possible I buy organic cotton clothing for both Eli and I. But the cotton isn't the only important factor. If it has a design on it, what kind of ink is being used, what's the process like?
I was super excited to find Elemental Shop because not only are all of their goods organic cotton, but they use all water based inks, and their stuff is really affordable! I've seen organic cotton t-shirts that cost as much as $40, but Elemental Shop's goods start at $12.95 for onesies and go to $18.00 for a hooded t-shirt with a short sleeved t-shirt costing only $14.95.





Elemental Shop is a husband and wife team. Adam and Kelly started the shop in April 2009 in Grants Pass, OR. They wanted to do their part to help the environment and offer awesome organic clothing at decent prices. You can buy their stuff online but if you live (or are visiting) Southern Oregon you can find them at the downtown artisans market every Saturday (May-Aug) in downtown Grants Pass, OR. 

I was sent an adorable organic whale onesie for Eli to try out. They use American Apparel items so I sized up a little and got an 18-24 month size, which was perfect for Eli who is almost a year old and weighs about 23 lbs. I was so surprised at how soft the ink was, it's as if that's just how the fabric came, you can't even tell there's ink on it! I've also washed this onesie a lot and the color from the ink has remained vibrant and bright, no fading!
 

I loved their stuff so much that I had to buy myself a hooded owl t-shirt!



Buy it: Go visit Elemental Shop and check out all our their awesome designs and get yourself (or your baby) some cool new clothes.


Win it: Elemental Shop is kindly offering one of our readers their choice of 1 short sleeve shirts (adult, toddler, or kid), onesie, or tank top.

Rules: You must complete the mandatory entry for your additional entries to be valid. Please leave one separate comment for each entry (ie: if you get 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments, it's easier on me when counting). Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win!

Mandatory Entry
 (must be completed for your additional entries to be valid)
Visit Elemental Shop and tell me what you would choose if you won!

Additional Entries

❤ Become a fan of Elemental Shop on Facebook! (1 entry)
❤ Follow @elemental_shop on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Follow @lepetitowlet on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Follow  on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Subscribe to Le Petit Owlet via Feedburner (2 entries, right sidebar)
❤ Put my new button on your blog! (2 entries, leave a link)





The Hip (Single) Mama




 
❤ Tweet about this giveaway ❝ #Win an #organic tee or onesie from @elemental_shop and @lepetitowlet http://bit.ly/cMYVnz ❞ (Limited to one tweet per day, please leave the permalink)
❤ Comment on another post and tell me which one you commented on! (1 entry)

Contest will end on June 10th, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and
announced on or around May 22nd.
Good luck!



Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.



Jessica

5.20.2010

Bummis Easy Fit Review

I was given the opportunity by Bummis to try the Easy Fit diaper when it was first released. We've been using this diaper for quite a few weeks now and I have to say, we love it! Cloth diapering, as you know, is important to me. I love being able to try all different cloth diapers so I can spread the word and get more babies into cloth (check out The Cloth Diaper Revolution on Facebook, and the blog).

Now, velcro like closures are hard for us sometimes because it just so happens that Eli likes being naked and if his diaper is velcro then he will take it off. The velcro on the Easy Fit is pretty sturdy and it's one of the diapers that little E has a harder time taking off, so that's a plus!

Fit: This diaper comes in two sizes, the one size which fits 8-35lbs, and the Tini Fit which fits 5-12lbs (perfect for a preemie). We of course got the one size and the fit is great. We are on the middle rise setting and the velcro closures make the waist super adjustable for a perfect fit.

Ease of use: The Easy Fit has an attached liner made of rayon from bamboo. There is a pocket so you can fold the liner in to create 6 layers of absorbency and add extra inserts if needed for heavy wetters or night time use. Because the liner is sewn in there are really no extra steps other than folding it down before putting it on your baby. I generally do this after washing and drying so the diaper is ready to go when I need it.

Performance: The liner is made from bamboo and gives you 6 layers of absorbency. I find bamboo to be one of the most absorbent fabrics, and this diaper certainly proves that. I have been able to test the Easy Fit over night and during the day and I have not once ever had a leak, even when I forgot to put in an extra insert for night. 

Value: I checked pricing at several different online shops. I saw it listed from $18.95 to $27. Now, I think $27 is a bit much, $18.95 is more like the right price, and the diaper is well worth that amount. $18.95 is the average amount for an all in one or pocket diaper. Any amount is still better than paying $20/week in disposables, but I would certainly shop around online for the proper pricing.


Check the Bummis website for retailers near you!
"Like" Bummis on Facebook!

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
Jessica

4.29.2010

Patemm® Pad Review & Giveaway



Diaper changing while out and about has always been a pain in the butt for me. No matter what I did I either forgot a changing pad, wipes, and on the rare occasion, diapers. Not only am I forgetful but it seems like anywhere I am likely to be doesn't have anywhere to change a baby except for the floor (think hippie coffee shops), or the backseat of my car (which if you've done it you know it's super difficult). I needed to find some kind of solution. I wanted something organic, easy to transport, and of course nice looking. I found Patemm® Pads and they fit all of my requirements and more.

Patemm® Inc. was created by a mother, Grace. Grace graduated from NYU and spent 6 years doing public relations, marketing, and branding for a San Francisco design firm. After she had babies she wanted to return to the workforce, but she wanted it to be on her own terms, she figured the best way to do that would be by starting a business. Combining her frustrations with the small rectangular changing pads on the market and being overwhelmed by diaper bags full of stuff, she came up with the Patemm® Pad, a round changing pad that can hold your diaper changing essentials, folds up for easy transport, and is nice to look at! The Patemm® Pad was founded in San Francisco in 2004. The name Patemm® is a combination of Grace's first two children's names: Patrick and Emma.


For review I received the 100% organic cotton Pattem® Pad in the gorgeous Buhayin pattern. The organic Patemm® Pads are GOTS (Global organic textile standards) certified, and two of the colors (avocado and hibiscus) are SKAL Certified 100% Organic eco-friendly and sustainable process for dyeing and finishing. 

This changing pad is awesome! It's a lot easier to carry than a big diaper bag when I am out and about with Elijah in my Ergo. We cloth diaper and I have found that I can easily fit 2-3 cloth diapers, diaper cream, a few cloth wipes, and a small spray bottle of wipes solution in the pockets of this pad. Not only have I used it for diaper changes but also for a small designated play area when at a doctors office or just out. It's super soft and not too thin like some other changing pads, this one is nice and comfortable!

Patemm® Pads also come in a non-organic, laminated cotton. The laminated cotton pads are PVC, lead, phthalate, latex, BPA, and formaldehyde FREE, so no worries about nasty chemicals coming in contact with your baby.
Another great thing? These pads are made in San Francisco!

Buy it: Visit the Patemm® Pad website and get one of these awesome round changing pads!

Win it: Patemm® Pads has graciously offered one of our readers their very own Patemm® Pad!



Rules: You must complete the mandatory entry for your additional entries to be valid. Please leave one separate comment for each entry (ie: if you get 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments, it's easier on me when counting). Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win!
Mandatory Entry
 (must be completed for your additional entries to be valid)
Go to the Patemm® Pad website and tell me which Patemm® Pad you would choose if you won!

Additional Entries

❤ "Like" Patemm Pad on Facebook (1 entry)
❤ "Like" Le Petit Owlet on Facebook (1 entry)
❤ Follow Le Petit Owlet publicly via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
❤ Follow @lepetitowlet on Twitter (1 entry)
❤  Follow @patemmpads on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Subscribe to Le Petit Owlet via Feedburner (2 entries, right sidebar)
❤ Put one of my buttons on your blog! (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Blog about this giveaway (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Tweet about this giveaway! " Win a @patemmpads changing pad from @lepetitowlet http://bit.ly/patemm "
❤ Comment on another post and tell me which one you commented on! (1 entry)
Giveaway will end on May 8th at 11:59pm. I will try to post the winner by the next day but things have been hectic lately. I will do my best to post asap after the winner is chosen!  Contest is only open to U.S Residents.
Good luck!


Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Jessica

4.21.2010

Everyday Minerals Review & Giveaway


I've been a mama for almost 10 months. Before I was a mom I would get dressed up, wear crazy outfits, do my hair, and sometimes I'd even wear makeup. I was never the type of person to pile it on, I think less is more. It's amazing how even just a little bit of blush can make your feel more put together and less self conscious. In the past 10 months I have pretty much forgotten that makeup even exists at all until I decided that if I do use a little blush or a dab of eyeshadow, even a little lipstick now and then, it might make me feel better when I am out in world exposed to people. I'm a mom but I don't have to lose myself, and I can still feel pretty! 

Now, the trouble with makeup is that if you want something natural you are going to have a hard time finding it and it's probably going to be expensive. I was overjoyed when I discovered Everyday Minerals. They are all-natural, vegan, use organic ingredients, and the best part? Totally affordable mineral makeup.

Everyday Minerals also has an amazing website. Seriously, I am jealous of their great graphics! They are also based out of Austin, TX which is where I live, so I'm keeping it local!

Everyday Minerals was generous enough to send me a few items for review. I got to try the Come What May blush, Ginger Peach eyeshadow, and two lipsticks; Siesta and Golden Strawberry.

Come What May Blush

I have been wearing this blush daily. It has a pretty shimmer and it's light. There are two sizes for their makeup: big and sample. The big blush is only $8 (most blushes in drugstores that are not all natural cost more than that!), and the sample size is only $2.50. I love the sample option, it's nice to be able to try stuff out before committing to a full sized product. I am fair skinned and stay out of the sun and this is a great color for me. I think it's pretty universal and would look great on all skin types.



Ginger Peach Eyeshadow

I generally save eyeshadow for "special" occasions, but I've worn this eyeshadow several times. Just like the blush it has a pretty shimmer and it's light. You only need to use a tiny dab, so this container is going to last me a long time! I've used it as an eyeliner and covering my whole eyelid and I love it both ways. They have some really gorgeous colors, I might just have to buy myself a few of them. The eyeshadows come in the sample size and mini (which is the full sized product). The sample size is $2.50 and mini is only $6. Again, cheaper than a lot of other makeup out there (and definitely cheaper than other mineral makeup brands).

Siesta and Golden Strawberry Lipsticks

Lipstick is another cosmetic that I rarely wear. I asked for the Golden Strawberry because it looked fairly neutral and they also sent the Siesta to try out (the Siesta lipstick is the one pictured. They don't have the Golden Strawberry on their website anymore, sad). When I put these on for the first time I was so surprised, they are amazing! Both of these colors are so neutral you can wear them at any time. They are light, don't taste weird (or at all), and they just look great! I've found myself wearing these lipsticks pretty frequently, which is such a rare thing for me.





Buy it: Visit Everyday Minerals and get some great makeup for yourself. They have a lot of great samples, kits, and discounts!

Win it: Everyday Minerals is kindly giving away two of their Come What May blushes (the kind that I got try!), which means two of you will win!

Rules: You must complete the mandatory entry for your additional entries to be valid. Please leave one separate comment for each entry (ie: if you get 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments, it's easier on me when counting). Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win!
Mandatory Entry
 (must be completed for your additional entries to be valid)
Go look at all the great stuff Everyday Minerals has and tell me what you'd love to try for yourself

Additional Entries

❤ "Like" Everyday Minerals on Facebook (1 entry)
❤ "Like" Le Petit Owlet on Facebook (1 entry)
❤ Follow @lepetitowlet on Twitter (1 entry)
❤  Follow @EM_Carina on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Subscribe to Le Petit Owlet via Feedburner (2 entries, right sidebar)
❤ Put one of my buttons on your blog! (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Blog about this giveaway (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Tweet about this giveaway, make sure you include @lepetitowlet and a link to the giveaway!
❤ Comment on another post and tell me which one you commented on! (1 entry)
Giveaway will end on April 29th at 11:59pm. I will try to post the winner by the next day but things have been hectic lately. I will do my best to post asap after the winner is chosen! 
Good luck!


Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
 

Jessica

4.13.2010

O-Wool Mattress Pad Review

Oh, wool (and O~Wool!), you've done it again. You've already convinced me that you're the fiber of all fibers, but you've introduced a new wool product to me that I love!


Behold, the organic wool mattress pad.

"The Australian Merinos raised at Plevna Downs (one of the stations where O~Wool is produced) are some of the finest sheep in the world. The organic outback provides a sustainable environment for the Merinos to graze and flourish. For every garment made with O~Wool™ between two and three acres of the outback are sustained under organic management. For our customers this means supporting thousands of acres of organic
outback each year by making clothing from O~Wool."
You spend many hours out of the day, and your lifetime, in bed. If you're like me sometimes you even hang out on your bed, and if you co-sleep then your baby sleeps in your bed with you. I would absolutely love to buy a new natural, organic mattress, but right now that's just not in the budget. I need a new mattress, but I refuse to buy one until I can get one that I know isn't going to harm me or my family with toxic chemicals. The next best thing is something that covers your mattress, a mattress pad! I needed something that was going to cover my mattress but it was also important that it was water resistant, antibacterial, organic, and natural. Of course wool is all of those qualities and then some! I was lucky to be sent this O~Wool Organic Mattress Pad to test out and review. I am so happy with this mattress pad. I noticed such a difference the night that I put it on. It was pretty chilly for a few days recently and it helped keep Elijah and I warm when we slept, another added bonus since I can't really cover Elijah up with a ton of blankets.
With this mattress pad I am no longer worried about the rare diaper leak, or if I get breast milk on the bed at night, because I know the mattress pad will keep it from getting into the mattress and getting yucky. Big plus there! 
This mattress pad is made with super soft, organic wool. It's amazing, I love O~Wool! It has straps on each corner to hold the mattress pad in place and it's thin enough that your sheets will still fit over it.


The Organic O~Wool Mattress Pads start out at $140 for a twin size and go up to a California King size for $224. They also offer a crib sized organic wool mattress pad for $72 and a puddle pad for $45.

Get your very own Organic O~Wool Mattress Pad here

Jessica

4.09.2010

Snug Organics Review

I am always on the lookout for organic clothing for Elijah, especially sleepwear. A lot of mainstream baby sleepwear is synthetic and covered in flame retardant chemicals. Synthetic fabrics aren't breathable and flame retardant chemicals are, well, toxic! I don't want toxic chemicals on my baby if I can help, and especially not on his sleepwear.  The idea of Eli just laying on a chemical coated fabric doesn't sit well with me.

During one of my searches I came across Snug Organics. I knew by just looking at the photos that this is something I wanted to try. It just looked so soft and snuggly, and it has everything that I look for in baby sleepwear. Snug Organics sent me their 100% Organic Cotton Snug Sherpa Sleeper in chocolate size 12-18 months.


As soon as I took this sleeper out of the package I was so jealous that Eli got to wear it, I want one for myself! Eli is a big guy, so I was unsure which size to order but I went with the 12-18 mo. and crossed my fingers it wouldn't be too small. I got lucky and it's a perfect fit. I do recommend sizing up with this sleeper because it will shrink a bit if you accidentally wash it on warm or hot and dry it. Snug Organics suggests washing on cool and line drying, and now that summer is upon us that's an option.

Right now we're in that transitional time where we have the windows open with the heat off and no a/c yet. It's pretty warm in the house, which means it's too warm to wear this sleeper to bed, but once the a/c is on it will be perfect, and of course it's perfect for winter and fall. We've been using it as not only a sleeper but just for wearing all day. Not only is it cute, but it's soft and comfy, and organic!


The Snug Organics website is a store, but also a wealth of information. They have an entire section dedicated to why organics are vital where the first paragraph reads:

The Healthy Children Project recommends “buying clothing, bedding and furniture made of natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, which do not melt near heat and as such do not need to contain flame-retardants.” Contrary to what you might hear, baby sleepwear doesn’t have to be flame-resistant. Natural fabrics are acceptable but must fit snugly to be safe and should be labeled that way. Most clothing produced today is grown and manufactured with toxic chemicals. The garment industry is well-known for being chemically intensive and polluting. Synthetic and conventional cotton can also cause harm as most of them are allergenic and emit harmful gasses.
Along with their sherpa sleepers they also sell an array of organic cotton items. Their sleepers go up to size 4T and are $48, which I think is a small price to pay for such a great sleeper! Organic costs more but it saves you money in the long run (less health problems for all).

Visit Snug Organics and get your babe a super cozy organic sherpa sleeper!

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
Jessica

4.06.2010

Maggie's Pure Land Soap Nuts Review & Giveaway

Forgive me for being so MIA lately, I've been dealing with a lot of not so fun stuff. But I am back with a great review and something I have never done before, a live giveaway!

 

I have tried a lot of detergents. Not only do I have to find something that washes my clothes well, but I also have to find something that works with my cloth diapers. All of the detergents that I have tried out have worked great on my clothes, and for the most part pretty good on my diapers, but I hadn't found anything that I was totally in love with, until I found soap nuts. I was recently given the opportunity to try both the soap nuts and liquid soap from Maggie's Pure Land.

So, what are soap nuts? Only the most natural of all natural detergents ever! Soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree (Sapindus mukorrosi). Yes, this is a fruit that washes your clothes (and poopy diapers) and works! When soap nuts get wet they release saponin which is a natural cleaner. Because they are completely all natural they are 100% biodegradable and perfect for using on even the finest materials such as silk and wools. 





In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, soap nuts are used to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema, so you know this is a super gentle laundry soap

It took a little trial and error on my part to get these products down to a science (for me anyway, all washing machines, routines, and items are different for everyone). I finally came up with the perfect routine! I use both the liquid soap and the soap nuts in the cotton sack on my clothing and other washables, and for diapers I put 3-4 nuts in without the cloth bag and I keep them in for the cold rinse cycle, the long hot wash, then sometimes an extra rinse cycle. Every time my diapers come out of the wash I bury my nose in them and take a big whiff and I am happy to report that I have not been surprised by a yucky smell yet!

Maggie's Pure Land is offering a sample of either soap nuts or their liquid soap nut soap to TEN of our readers!  
The first ten valid entries will be the winners.

You must be a public follower of Le Petit Owlet via google friend connect, then go to Maggie's Pure Land have a look around and tell me something you learned!

If you are a winner: I am going to post your names either later today or tomorrow and you have to contact me. You can either email me or tweet me.



Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.



Jessica

3.28.2010

Little-to-Big Wool Cover Review

It's time for my favorite fiber (wool!) to make another appearance on here in the form of a Little-to-Big Organic Wool Cover by Better For Babies review.

As a quick refresher course in the wonders of wool you can check out this post that I wrote about it.


❝ While its beginnings were nurtured overseas while living abroad in Wales, Better for Babies, Inc. now has its roots firmly planted, and growing, outside Atlanta, Georgia.
 
In 2007, Leah opened her own manufacturing facility near her town’s square allowing her to see to fruition a dedication to local and sustainable production, fair wages, green business practices, and an uncompromising commitment to quality products, innovation and customer service. From there, Little Beetle organic diapers and wool covers are born. The Tres Tria Co-sleeping Solution came next, followed by a growth spurt resulting in Better For Grownups.❞

Fit: This cover has an adjustable rise, hook and loop closures, and a crossover tab for the hook and loop closure for skinny babes. This cover will definitely fit any babe, little to big. The leg elastics are not too tight like some other covers, no red marks on Eli's chunky thighs. It's a little on the "fluffier" side, but I love fluffy bums so I am ok with that, Eli will be wearing just a diaper as the weather gets warmer anyway.

Performance: It's wool, it's amazing! Really though, this cover is great. Elijah has worn it during the day and at night and we haven't ever had a leak of any sort.

Ease of Use:  In my opinion, wool is easier to use than PUL covers. They don't need to be washed as often unless they get soiled with #2, and I always wash mine in my washing machine on the delicate cycle cold then lay out to dry. No harder than caring for my cloth diapers or regular clothing laundry! The cover itself is very easy to use. I put the rise settings on the snaps that fit Eli the first time I used it so I haven't had to do it again, and this cover has a hook and loop closure so it goes on as quick as can be!



Value: This wool cover retails at $38.95. This is pretty much the average price of an organic wool cover, except most wool covers that cost this much are not one size, so by buying the Little-to-Big wool cover you are getting a better deal, this will last you from birth to potty training!

Buy it: Visit Better For Babies to buy your own Little-to-Big Cover (and some other great cloth diapers and covers!)
Connect: Fan Better For Babies on Facebook & follow them on Twitter!

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
Jessica

3.24.2010

Abeego Flats Review

I've been making a conscious effort to stop using as many disposable and plastic items as I can. One of those disposable items that gets used a lot is plastic wrap. Plastic wrap is so wasteful! Use once then throw away. Unfortunately plastic wrap is not recycleable so every time you use it you are generating waste, and of course plastic is not biodegradable. 
Most plastic wraps are made from polyethylene, PVC, or PVDC. In a previous article I wrote about the dangers of PVC. Why would I put something on my food if I won't even put it in my bathroom!? These polymers are all derived from hydrocarbons such as methane or ethylene. These are produced from natural gas or petroleum. Petroleum is not good, and I could write about it forever, but that's another post for another day. The sum of this is that plastic wrap is bad.
In my search to find a more eco-friendly solution to plastic wrap I came across Abeego Designs.


Abeego products are natural and eco-friendly, made from organic hemp/cotton and infused with beeswax and plant extracts to make them moldable and water resistant. They are super easy to clean, just use cold soap and water! Abeego has three different products available: Abeego Wrap, Abeego Snack, and Abeego Flats. I was given the opportunity to review the Abeego Flats. 



Abeego Flats come in 6, 9, and 12-inch squares so they will fit an assortment of bowls and foods. The woman behind Abeego, Toni, told me that they worked great on avocado. I tried it out and she was right! I've used them for bowls, veggies, and to cover a strawberry cake I made (yum!). I haven't tried it with cheese yet but I want to. We always put our cheese in plastic baggies and since we're ditching those too I need to find a new alternative. I will definitely report back once I do try these flats on cheese.
A set of flats retails for $20 and will pay for itself in the long run!


Visit Abeego to buy some eco-friendly food storage products for yourself!
Jessica

3.21.2010

Snack Taxi Review & Giveaway

I am currently in the process of ditching all disposable kitchen items. No more ziploc bags, paper towels, saran wrap, etc. It's so wasteful and not good for the earth! Plus, isn't it better to save money by using reusable items? I generally don't use plastic baggies but my husband does, and as Elijah gets older I am sure I will be bringing something for him to snack on whenever we go out.


I recently came across Snack Taxi, resuseable bags for snacks and sandwiches, exactly what I was looking for! They sent me 3 items for review, a sandwich snack, snack sack, and twice-as-nice napkin.
The Snack Taxi sandwich and snack sacks are made with a 100% cotton exterior and a waterproof nylon interior. All the materials they use to make their products are extensively tested an are lead and phthalates free. They are easy to care for, you can either machine wash and dry or rinse out and air dry.
I've tried out these sacks with everything from sandwiches to snacks, and I even found a new use for the snack sack the other day! Elijah is teething, he's been having a really rough time this past week. I don't like for him to chew on plastic so those plastic water filled teething toys are out. Frozen washcloths can get really messy, so I needed another alternative. While I was in the kitchen trying to brainstorm I saw my snack sack on the counter. I got out some frozen pineapple (the consistency of frozen pineapple is great for teething babies cause it's pretty soft), wrapped it up in a napkin and stuffed it into the snack sack. Viola! Elijah loved it. He chewed on it and carried it around with him. I felt good about him chewing on it because it wasn't plastic, and it gave him that relief he needed. The bag is actually sitting in the freezer right now so we can use it again soon.
So, we love these sacks. We're not contributing to the landfills and these sacks are a lot nicer to look at than a plastic bag!
The twice-as-nice napkin has also come in very handy. I've been bringing it everywhere I go!


Buy it: Visit Snack Taxi to purchase some reusable snack and sandwich sacks!

Win it: Snack Taxi is giving one of our readers the same set that I tried out, a Sandwich Sack, Snack Sack, and Twice-As-Nice Napkin (a $20 value). Fabric selections are always changing so they can't guarantee any prints.

Rules: You must complete the mandatory entry for your additional entries to be valid. Please leave one separate comment for each entry (ie: if you get 2 entries then leave 2 separate comments, it's easier on me when counting). Please make sure you leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win!
Mandatory Entry
 (must be completed for your additional entries to be valid)
To enter this giveaway you must be a public follower of Le Petit Owlet via Google Friend Connect (part one of the mandatory entry). Once you are a follower visit Snack Taxi and tell me what your favorite prints are!

Additional Entries

❤ Visit the Snack Taxi and tell me something you learned about the company (1 entry)
❤ Become a fan of Snack Taxi on Facebook! (1 entry)
❤ Become a fan of Le Petit Owlet on Facebook! (1 entry)
❤ Follow @lepetitowlet on Twitter (1 entry)
❤ Subscribe to Le Petit Owlet via Feedburner (2 entries, right sidebar)
❤ Put one of my buttons on your blog! (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Blog about this giveaway (2 entries, leave a link)
❤ Tweet about this giveaway ❝ Ditch plastic baggies and get Snack Taxi sacks instead! Win some @lepetitowlet http://bit.ly/cVBPU3 #eco #giveaway ❞ (Limited to one tweet per day, please leave the permalink)
❤ Comment on another post and tell me which one you commented on! (1 entry)

Contest will end on March 31st, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on April 1st, 2010.
Good luck!


Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
Jessica

3.16.2010

Kissa's Wool Lover Diaper Cover Review


I was recently given the opportunity to test out Kissaluvs new wool diaper cover, which of course I was excited about because I love wool, it's my favorite fibers. One of the great things about wool covers (besides the fact that they are breathable and oh so darn cute on little baby bums) is that they will last forever. Wool is a fiber that doesn't break down like other materials, it's strong and stays strong, so you can use your wool covers for multiple children. They will also hold up really well so you can keep them as heirlooms. I know I want to give Elijah his wool covers one day when he's older, that would be such a great thing to have!

Kissaluvs began in a dining room with a fitted diaper for baby "Kissa". Today Kissaluvs continues to be a family owned and operated business. Kissaluvs makes and distributes cloth diaper supplies in the most responsible way possible which includes using local and US suppliers when possible (all of their fabric, diapers, lotions, and potions are made in the USA), recycling, compensating their employees with a fair wage, paid time off, and excellent equipment to use. Kissaluvs also donates fabric scraps! 

 Fit: I received this cover in a size medium, which is a perfect fit for Elijah. I was just looking at the measurements again and I realize I could have totally gotten a large so we can use it longer.
A good thing about wool is that it stretches, so while a large would have worked for us, the medium will probably be in use for a while longer. I would definitely suggest sizing up though, as you can see from the chart above the differences in sizes is so small that you can be pretty flexible.
Other than that the cover fit great, the leg openings were a good size, and the waist was high so you could roll it down or keep it up if you wanted to.


Performance: This wool cover has been wonderful. The wool is super soft and thicker than some of our other wool covers, so you don't need to lanolize it as often. I've only used my spray lanolin once and this cover has been great, no leaks at all.





Ease of use: This is a pull on wool cover which is the easiest kind of cover to use. No need to snap or affix velcro like closures. Just pull on and off. Wool, in my opinion, is easier to wash than PUL covers because you don't have to wash it often. I wash my wool covers once every 3-4 weeks. I have several covers, someone who has less could still easily go 2-3 weeks. After your baby wears it you just take it off and let it dry inside out.


Value: This cover retails for $36 which is standard pricing for wool, it's actually less expensive than some other wool covers of this style. I wouldn't think twice about purchasing this wool cover if I saw it in a store because it's so soft and I love the pull on style.


Buy it: You can purchase Kissa's Wool Lover Cover online at Kissaluvs. You can also find a local retailer near you bye searching here


Disclaimer: I did not receive payment in any form for this review.
I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service.The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.
Jessica
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