Winner of One Baby One Earth Dipe

The winner of the One Baby One Earth Giveaway is

fancygrlnancy

Be sure to contact me by Thursday to claim your prize!

I Was Here Breastfeeding- At My Grandma's!

We went over to my grandma's house this week so that I could do some uninterrupted work on the computer (she has a big beautiful new Mac!) and R-Man could play with my young cousin. So here we are nursing and visiting!


Share your nursing photos for the week! Post, include the I Was Here... Breastfeeding button, and link up!

Where I Babywear- Cleaning the House

Lion Cub is getting so big that I don't wear him as much when we are at home, unless he is having a particularly fussy day. Well the last few days have been just that- particularly fussy- so yesterday I gave in, strapped him on my back and got down to getting some much needed cleaning done! Here are the pictures that my professional little three-year-old photographer snapped:

Here I am vacuuming

Washing Diapers

Putting fresh sheets on the bed! Thank goodness for my Mei Tai!

Link up your babywearing pics from this week (and include the Where I Babywear button)- we would all love to see!!

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper Blog Tour

The third book I am featuring this week is The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper. I haven't yet been able to read this one, so I thought I would just post the summary since it is the blog tour week. When I am able to read it, however, you can be sure I'll let you know what I think!

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado , she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

If this book sounds interesting to you, you can pick up a copy at Random House.

Also, if you would like to blog for books published by Waterbrook Press you can check out their program right here!

Chic Cheeks- Least Favorite Dipe

There are some diapers that just don't live up to their hype- and everyone has a different opinion of what they are. For us they were Happy Heinys. I had heard so many great things about these dipes, and they were in the first batch of dipes that I ever bought, but for us, they just didn't cut it. I found their cut to be unflattering and not particularly trim, and above all, they leaked... like mad! And I am not just talking a little bit through the leg holes, they leaked straight through the PUL! They also developed holes very quickly in the microfleece. So, yeah, that's what I have to say about that!

What is the least favorite dipe you have ever purchased? Post, Add the Chic Cheeks Button, & Link up! Can't wait to hear your warnings for my future purchases! Haha!

Thoughts on my Current State

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This is one of those "I've got to be honest" posts. I have been getting burnt out. I just want time with no one screaming, crying or needing me- and not just for precious time to relax (which don't get me wrong, I would love!), but just to get my house clean! Maybe it's silly and I just need to suck it up and deal, but it really frustrates me to have a list in the morning of things I want or need to accomplish, and get to the end of the day with nearly nothing done! I know it is just the season that I'm in, that someday things will get easier again, but in the midst of this period I am just... tired.

It's tough to realize that you're not super woman- and I have been having that realization like a harsh slap in the face! Awwww... the joys of postpartum adjustment! Yeah me!

I will be more positive next week.

Want to commiserate? Post (with the Mama Time Button) and link! Here's to easier days!

Little Bear Bums Diaper Review & Giveaway

Just before Lion Cub was born I was sent a fun little package in the mail for review from Little Bear Bums (you may remember their mama cloth I featured last month). Inside were three prefitteds to try out on my little man! In addition, since Little Bear Bums does not make their own covers, they have collaborated with Loveybums to recommend their wool covers for their dipes, so I got to try out a Loveybums wool crepe cover as well! Woohoo!!


As you can imagine, I was thrilled, and it only got better once Lion Cub was big enough to actually try out the dipes! For those of you who aren't familiar, a prefitted is simply a prefold that has been sewn into the shape of a fitted diaper, but generally still requires a Snappi to close. Little Bear Bums prefitteds are expertly sewn and very durable.

As with any prefold-style diaper (in my opinion, anyway) there was a bit of a learning curve to discover the perfect way to secure the diaper so that I would not have a leak, but past that point we have been using these prefitteds with great success. The way the extra fabric is sewn to the center gives a breathable open loop which speeds drying time considerably and the elastic in the leg casings insures a snug fit. The prefitteds are also incredibly trim and fit easily into nearly any cover.


The Loveybums cover is also beautifully made and packaged. I received a size small wool crepe cover that snaps in the front and we really like it. We are still waiting for it to fit snugly around the legs, but even still, it works pretty well most of time. I know that once Lion Cub fits into it completely it will work like a charm (I used one of their wool jersey covers on R-Man and it worked beautifully and fit very trim)! The wool crepe is very soft and makes for a nice trim fit under clothes, and of course you just can't beat wool for breathability in a cover! As soon as we can afford it I would love to be able to purchase anther one or two of the Loveybums covers.


Would you like to win a set of 3 prefitteds from Little Bear Bums? Just pop on over to the Little Bear Bums site and then come back here and tell me what your favorite product is and why!

Additional entries will be granted for all of the following (leave a separate comment for each)- these entries only count AFTER you complete the above entry:

• Become a fan of Little Bear Bums on Facebook
• Visiting Loveybums and telling me what your favorite cover is
  
• Being a follower of my blog (right sidebar)
• Being a subscriber of my blog- via feed or e-mail (left sidebar)
• Having the Mama Kenz Studio button on your blog (also in left sidebar)
• Blogging about the giveaway (leave the link to your direct post)
• Following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway (leave your screen name and the time you tweeted)
• Participating in any meme during this giveaway (leave the direct link to your meme post)

The giveaway will end Friday, September 4, 2009 @ 9:00 PST. Winner will be posted and notified by the end of the week. For full details and rules about the Summer of Baby Love Blog Party, please visit this post.

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love- Review

The second book I am featuring this week is The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo. I am about a third of the way through this book right now and am enjoying it. I will say that, so far, it seems there are a few themes that are recurring among a number of the characters (singleness, the return of a past love, recent death in the family, etc...), but I am still interested in seeing how things play out. It will be especially interesting to see how the books the Sweetgum ladies are reading play into their lives in the chapters I have yet to read.

Here is the summary for the book:

Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.
As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.
Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum , Tennessee , love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

If this book sounds interesting to you, you can pick up a copy at Random House.

Also, if you would like to blog for books published by Waterbrook Press you can check out their program right here!

Rose House Review

This week I will be featuring reviews for three new books from Waterbrook Press. I started reviewing for Waterbrook at the beginning of the summer and must say that I am LOVING it! I usually only buy books from authors I am familiar with, so getting to read all this new literature for review has been a great way to expand my horizons and get a taste for lots of different writing styles. Analyzing what I do and don't like about these books has also been helping me as I develop my own writing style and begin attempting to write my first fiction novel (more to come on that, I assure you!).

Now, to the book at hand- Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner. Wow, this book took me by surprise! I had actually begun reading one of the other books I was sent, but it was getting a slow start, so I picked up Rose House to give it a gander and ended up not being able to put it down! I would literally sneak out of bed late at night once Lion Cub and my husband were fast asleep so that I could read more of this book! It was filled with twists and turns, and some very difficult subject matter that I don't typically find in Christian fiction.

In spite of some very dark points that the book possessed, it never failed to have a ribbon of hope running throughout its pages. Lillian, the main character, is faced with rebuilding her life after a tragedy that takes the lives of her young family. As the book progresses, the accident that rocked her world begins to seem less like an accident as bits and pieces unfold. All the while, there is a resounding theme of beauty and art that transports you to the small town of La Roseleda, the vineyards of California, and, of course, the Rose House.

If you are looking for a suspenseful read with a little bit of romance then you should definitely pick up a copy of Rose House. You can purchase it at Random House.

Also, if you would like to blog for books published by Waterbrook Press you can check out their program right here!

Knickernappies Review

As part of The Summer of Baby Love blog party I was sent a Knickernappies diaper by the manufacturer for a review. To be totally honest, I have mixed feeling about this diaper, but I am really not sure if it could just be due to user error or the shape of my particular baby.


I thought that the diaper was very trim, which was a definite pro in my book (in the picture below Lion Cub was only 4 weeks old, so it was still a bit big for him). The diaper fit nicely under clothes and comes in cute colors. Another BIG pro for me was the loopydoo insert! It is sewn as, well, a loop, so that the fabric can get cleaner and dry faster- a very nice feature! I also like that it side snaps, giving a clean look and preventing wing-droop.


The con for us was the leaks- Lion Cub tended to shoot pee straight out the legs. But once again, I have to emphasize that I am not sure if this is due to user error or just that this particular diaper wasn't a good fit for my particular baby. One thing I have definitely found in cloth diapering is that no one diaper fits every baby the same, and what works for one may not work for another! So, just because we had some leaking issues I wouldn't not recommend this diaper- it has so many good qualities. I think it probably would fit babies with chubbier thighs best, possibly, though.

If you would like to try out a Knickernappies dipe for yourself, you can purchase one from Cloth Diaper Outlet or No Pins 4 Baby. Give 'em a try and let me know what you think!

Winners!

Here are the winners for my most recent giveaways!

Jen M
has one the Rocky Mountain One-Size Dipe!

&

Mama Kalila
has one the Thirsties Fab Fitted and V2 Cover from Earth Angels Diaper Co!

Mamas please contact me by Tuesday to claim your prizes, if not I will have to pass them along to someone else! That would be a shame- for you, lucky for them! Haha! You get the point!

I Was Here... Breastfeeding- Nursing Rules!

A few weeks ago a friend of mine posted these rules for nursing on her Facebook status and I just couldn't help but post them for an I Was Here... Breastfeeding Meme! I hope you all get as big of a kick out of these as I did!

1. No acrobatics
2. Keep all pinching, hitting or twiddling hands to yourself
3. No favorites, treat both sides as equals
4. No suck, pull back, and let go
5. If you bite, you will be placed firmly on the floor
6. Ask nice
7. Baby kisses or snuggles are not required but are a nice tip
8. I reserve the right to remind you of all the things you did to me when you have little people in your life. ;)

Aren't those great?! So, now I want to hear from all of you! For this week's meme I would love for you to blog about your own little "Rules for Nursing," I am sure this could get hilarious! As always, if you can't think of any rules for yourself (or if you would just rather) you can post a nursing pic of you and your little one(s). Write your post, include the button and come back here to link up in the MckLinky to your direct post! Happy Nursing!

Works for me Wednesday- Bloggy Favorites!

I have recently been doing some new things (for me) in the blogging world and I thought that I would pass a few of these ideas on to the rest of you since they are working so well for me!

First of all, any of you who follow Carisa at 1+1+1=1 probably saw this post a few weeks ago, but if you haven't then you really need to check it out! She has so many awesome tips about blogging and making the most of your internet time! One of the things that has made a big difference for me has been enabling my e-mail address through blogger (this link goes to Jolanthe's Homeschool Creations blog and give very clear directions). By doing this people are able to e-mail me directly back in response to my comments on their blogs- duh, why didn't I figure this out before?! This has been really great and has allowed me to have much more of an ongoing conversation with some of my new blogging friends. I highly recommend that you all do it!

Another wonderful thing I have discovered and put to good use is my Google Reader! Holy cow- I am addicted! I had quite a few blogs that I was "following," but most of the time I wasn't able to make the rounds to all of the blogs and would forget the address and such. I had subscribed to fairly large number by e-mail but started receiving so many e-mails that I just couldn't keep up with it any more and it all felt disjointed! Now that I use my Google Reader I can easily read all my favorite blogs at one time and in one place! I LOVE it!!! What a valuable tool!

Okay, quite possibly the coolest and most useful thing I discovered through Carisa's post is Evernote!! At first I thought, "Oh, big deal, it is just another notes app! I have so many of those on my phone and hardly ever use them!" Well, Evernote is in a class all it's own! I don't thinkI can really do it justice by just telling you about it (although I may blog exclusively about it soon after I have used it for a while), so just do me a favor, go to the Evernote site and watch the intro video! You can thank me later!

Another great blog post was recently up on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer with lots of great basic directions for finding your way around Twitter! I am more of a facebooker and so Twitter has felt complicated and a little beyond me! However, this is a great post to simplify things a bit!

Lastly, for now, is the MckLinky Blog! Many of you probably know that MckLinky popped up on the scence about the time that Mr. Linky started having all sorts of problems, and has done a fantastic job filling the link-lovin' spot! Brent, the creator of MckLinky does an amazing job at creating relevant products and link-ware, and more over, the service is FREE! But beyond using the MckLinky itself, you have to go and check out the blog! Brent has some of the best blogging advice I have ever heard! He is incredibly straightforward and honest and I really appreciate his blogging mentality! I think all bloggers can benefit from reading what he has to say!

Chic Cheeks- Gro Baby!

I won! I won! I won!!!!!! I still can't believe it! I feel like I have entered so many contests and never see any results! I have especially been entering contests for Gro Baby diapers (since the day they came out) because I have wanted to try one so badly but just couldn't bring myself to pay $24 for one! Well, Barefoot Mommies recently held yet another Gro Baby contest and my number was finally drawn!!


So, what's the verdict? I LOVE this diaper! I really didn't expect to like it as much do, but I do! The first time Lion Cub wore it he made quite a mess in it, but much to my surprise, it all stayed within the liner and didn't leak out onto the shell at all! Woohoo! The snaps hold very snugly which I appreciate since sometimes when I am pulling up other one-size diapers (such as BGs) in front, the snaps come undone and I have to start all over again. I don't have that problem at all with the Gro Baby!


Also, in case you haven't heard, Gro Baby is coming out with a bio-liner at the end of this month that sticks to the shell and can be flushed or thrown away (similar to gdiapers). This could be a nice option for travel. I have also considered using the bio-liners for R-Man at night since we are using gdiapers for him right now (although I am not sure if it will be more economical once I figure in shipping). The only downfall I can see with this dipe is that it runs pretty small. Lion Cub is only 10 weeks old and already on the largest setting, so it probably won't last much longer- bummer!

Have you tried a Gro-Baby yet? If so, I would love to hear what you think of it! If you haven't, then you are welcome to link up any other post about CDing you make on your blog this week- just make sure to include the Chic Cheeks button in your post and leave the direct link to your post!

One Baby, One Earth Review and Giveaway

This week's review and giveaway is for a beautiful fitted dipe from:

The mama behind One Baby, One Earth makes all sorts of adorable things for moms and babes, including diapers, booties, carriers and more! We were sent a flannel fitted diaper to review and think it is just so cute-

For flannel, I was surprised that it really absorbed pretty well! Very soft and washed up great! The dipe fit Lion cub great around the legs but we are still waiting for it to be a little more snug around the belly. However, even with a bit of gapping in the front it hasn't influenced the functionality of the dipe- we have never had a leak!

Would you like to try a One Baby, One Earth fitted? You can enter to win one by visiting the One Baby, One Earth, then coming back and telling me what your favorite product is and why!

Additional entries will be granted for all of the following (leave a separate comment for each)- these entries only count AFTER you complete the above entry:

• Being a follower (right sidebar)
• Being a subscriber via e-mail (left sidebar)
• Having the Summer of Baby Love or Mama Kenz Studio button on your blog (also in left sidebar)
• Blogging about the giveaway (leave the link to your direct post)
• Following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway (leave your screen name and the time you tweeted- this can be done daily)
• 2 extra entries for participating in any meme during this giveaway (leave the direct link to your meme post)

The giveaway will end Friday, August 28, 2009 @ 9:00 PST. Winner will be posted and notified that weekend. For full details and rules about the Sumer of Baby Love Blog Party, please visit this post.

Mama Time- Baby Einstein

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Yes, you heard me correctly! I have been waiting for 8 weeks for my babe to be interested in Baby Einstein and he finally is! I know this is highly controversial, and some of you are shaking your heads with disappointment, but as a mom of a high maintenance baby (2 actually- I've been through this before!) I know that sometimes mama really does need a reprieve! I don't give him a pacifier (in hopes of him finding his thumb!) but I will take the small amount of solace and peace that Baby Einstein brings me! Granted, it is only for about 15 minutes, but those 15 minutes are gold!

So, what do you do to get a few moments of peace? How do you (or did you) get your babe to be content for a bit so you could get something accomplished?! Post, include the Mama Time button, and put your direct link in the MckLinky! I am waiting to learn!

Winner of Petit Mouton Giveaway!

Congrats to

jwoodbri

for winning the Lady Bug soaker from Petit Mouton!!

For more from Petit Mouton be sure to check out their Facebook page and blog (scroll down- it's not all in French)!!

Small Talk Six- Relaxation?

Today’s topic is “6 things you do, used to do, or would like to do to relax.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

So my list for how I would LIKE to relax is:
1. A long, uninterrupted, candle-lit bath!
2. A massage!
3. A mani/pedi!
4. One whole day to read, nap, relax- preferably by myself at a hotel! Haha! Yeah right!
5. Breakfast in bed!
6. A women's retreat or short little trip with a good friend or my mom!

So that's my dream list- none of which are actually going to happen, but even thinking about them is nice!

Visit MomDot to find out more and how to join!

Two Memes in One!

Alright everybody, I got a little behind this week- it was a looooong week! So, please forgive me for the absence of two of my normal memes! To make up for it I am doing a two for one deal- you can link up any post your have that is Breastfeeding or Babywearing related, right here, right now!

Just make sure to place the appropriate button on your blog and then come back and leave the direct link to your post! Can't wait to see what you contribute!

Rocky Mountain One-Size Review and Giveaway

Have you all heard of these fabulous little diapers? Well, if you haven't, prepare yourselves, because they are pretty darn cool! Rocky Mountain Diapers are one of the first one-size diapers that have their size-ability in the leg elastic, instead of snaps in the front (such as a BumGenius). This leg elastic sizing gives them a wonderful range of sizes and really reduces on the bulk of the diaper, allowing it to be a fairly trim fit. There is also a serious cuteness factor with their wide range of pastel color mixes in the outer PUL and inner suede cloth!

We were generously sent one Rocky Mountain Diaper to try over the past couple of months that Lion Cub has been around. At first we did have some issues finding exactly the right fit and absorbency (it doesn't come with an insert), but once I got the legs adjusted to fit him just right and paired the dipe with a Fuzzibunz insert (although I am sure many others would work equally as well) we were in business! This has been a fantastic little dipe and I really appreciate that it is made in the US by a mom who just had a great idea and is getting it out there on the forefront of the diapering scene!

Want to win a Lime and Lemon dipe of your very own to wrap around your little one's bum? Visit the Rocky Mountain Diapers site and tell me which of their "Instock" dipes you think is the cutest!

Additional entries will be granted for all of the following (leave a separate comment for each)- these entries only count AFTER you complete the above challenge:

• Become a fan of Rocky Mountain Diapers on Facebook
• Being a follower (right sidebar)
• Being a subscriber via e-mail (left sidebar)
• Having the Summer of Baby Love or Mama Kenz Studio button on your blog (also in left sidebar)
• Blogging about the giveaway (leave the link to your direct post)
• Following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway (leave your screen name and the time you tweeted- this can be done daily)
• 2 extra entries for participating in any meme during this giveaway (leave the direct link to your meme post)

The giveaway will end Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 9:00 PST. Winner will be posted and notified that weekend. For full details and rules about the Sumer of Baby Love Blog Party, please visit this post.

Mama Time- A Little Party!

If you are anything like me, then you very well may have grown up reading the Christy Miller books (and other subsequent series) by Robin Jones Gunn. I know these books are wildly popular for a variety of reasons that would make me think you have probably heard of them, not the least of which is that nearly all my college friends had read them and were in love with them! I can honestly say that these books literally helped shape my upbringing and highschool/college years!

Well, for all of you Robin Jones Gunn fans who may not be aware, there is lots happening in the worlds of Chrsity Miller and her best friend, Katie Weldon, as of late! Coming Attractions, the newest book in Katie's series, was released earlier this summer (more about that in a couple of weeks!), and now the first ever audio version of Summer Promise (Christy's first book) is about to be released as well! In fact, you can download a FREE copy for 24 hours on August 15- how cool is that?! Even cooler is the fact that Robin is throwing a pre-release party this Friday, August 14, from 5-7 pm Pacific, on her Facebook fan page where you can get your FREE copy even earlier!

Also, for those of you who might not know, Robin has recently opened Robin's Nest Shop where you can purchase all kids of cool "memorabellia" from the books, including posters, bags, T-shirts and even surboard key chains! Robin has new stuff coming out in the shop this weekend, so make sure to stop by!

What could be more fun and relaxing than hanging with some other Gunn book-lovers and traveling down memory lane by listening to an old favorite (or hearing it for the first time!)? Come join me this Friday so we can all have a little Mama Time with Robin!

Thirsties Review and Giveaway by Earth Angels Diaper Co.

Over the past couple of years I have become friends with the wonderful mama behind Earth Angels Diaper Co, and so, when putting together my Summer of Baby Love Blog Party I could think of few companies that I would want to support and promote more than hers!

If you haven't ever heard of Earth Angels Diaper Co then you seriously need to check them out! They offer nothing but the best lines of cloth diapers and accessories, not to mention fantastic deals and incomparable customer service! Free shipping on any order over $50 and tons of great cloth diapering articles round out the Earth Angels Diaper Co site to be more than just a store, but an all-around source for your cloth diapering needs, both physical and informational. You really can't go wrong when you purchase from Earth Angels Diaper Co.


For my Summer of Baby Love Blog Party, Earth Angels Diaper Co generously sent me a Thirsties Fab Fitted and Diaper Cover to review. I can honestly say that this is one of my all-time favorite diaper combinations and the first fitted a grab for during a diaper change! They are so trim and contain everything so well! Plus, the ease of use they offer with their aplix closure allows even my husband to be able to change a diaper now and again! The V2 diaper cover also fits wonderful over all our other fitteds and prefolds, and the leg gussets do a fantastic job of containing messes! I have never had a leak when using this Thirsties cover!

So, would you like to win a Thirsties Fab Fitted with a V2 Cover to try out for yourself? Just hop on over to the Earth Angels Diaper Co site and sign-up for their newsletter! It's that easy!

Additional entries will be granted for all of the following (leave a separate comment for each)- these entries only count AFTER you complete the above challenge:

• Become a fan of Earth Angels Diaper Co on Facebook (3 extra entires!!!)
• Following Earth Angels Diaper Co on Twitter
  
• Being a follower of my blog (right sidebar)
• Being a subscriber of my blog via e-mail (left sidebar)
• Having the Summer of Baby Love or Mama Kenz Studio button on your blog (also in left sidebar)
• Blogging about the giveaway (leave the link to your direct post)
• Following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway (leave your screen name and the time you tweeted)
• 2 extra entries for participating in any meme during this giveaway (leave the direct link to your meme post)

The giveaway will end Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 9:00 PST. Winner will be posted and notified that weekend. For full details and rules about the Sumer of Baby Love Blog Party, please visit this post.

Chic Cheeks- Tiny Bubbles

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about receiving the new Tiny Bubbles detergent from The Natural Baby Co and said that I would let you all know what I thought after I tried it. Well, we have been using it for about our last 4-5 washes and I am happy to report that it is every bit as wonderful as they say it is! Our dipes come out smelling and looking fresh as a daisy! I really couldn't be happier! I have been leery of ordering our detergent over the web for a few reasons, including shipping costs, but with these results I think I will have no choice but to do so!The real test will be on R-Man's nap-time diapers to see if this detergent helps rid us of the dreaded ammonia stink! We have been combating ammonia build up from his toddler pee for over a year now and it is just the worst! I will keep you posted on how it performs on those!

Now I want to hear what your favorite detergent is! What is your washing routine? What has (and hasn't) worked for you?! Write your post (and include the Chic Cheeks button- left sidebar) then come back here and add your direct post link to the MckLinky! Share your washing knowledge with us!

Little Bear Bums Winner!

The winner of the Little Bear Bums Mama Cloth Sampler is

TwentySomethingMomma

Congrats! I will be e-mailing you right away!

Mama Time- Another Blog Award!

Imagine my joy and surprise when I opened my in-box a few mornings ago to find not one, but two blog awards- one for Mama Kenz Studio and one for The World According to R-Man! I was elated!


For this blog I received a Kreative Blogger Award from Kim over at DirtyDiaperLaundry! The award comes with some instructions- I am supposed to list 7 things I love and then award it to 7 more bloggers! So here are my loves:

1. Jesus- He's done too much for me to not list him first!
2. My boys- R-Man, Lion Cub and Jer (my husband)- I won't list them separately because I won't rank them, of course!
3. My computer (and my iPhone)- my voice and my lifeline to the outside world!
4. Books- my vicarious way of living, and relaxing!
5. Chocolate! Enough said!
6. Snapple White Raspberry Tea- the most light and refreshing drink I've ever had!
7. My Camera- I love capturing all those little moments of my family that are so fleeting!

Now, to show the love to my fellow bloggy mamas, I am going to award the Kreative Blogger award to these Mamas:

Teaching My Little Bookworm
Super Heroes and Princesses
Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns
No Ordinary Moments
Little Moments
5 Silly Frogs
Teach Mama

Snag it, Post it, and CONGRATS! You are all wonderful!

Petit Mouton Review & Giveaway!

If you are looking for beautiful and functional wool soakers for your babe, look no further! Petit Mouton is the answer to your search! Marie at Petit Mouton makes the most adorable crocheted soakers you have ever seen! Just take a look at the one I received to test:


We found this little soaker to be incredibly well constructed and trim, not to mention simply precious and cute! It kept all wetness at bay while keeping my little man stylish! We couldn't have been happier with this soaker! It fit really well from about 1 week old to about a month and a half old, which was right when I was in need of an extra soaker (first time CDing a newborn, so I didn't get nearly as many small covers as I needed!).

If you would like to purchase one of Marie's beautiful creations then just head on over to Petit Mouton and look at all the cute stuff she has to offer!

Want to win this adorable, size small soaker?

If you think this is just about the cutest thing you have ever seen and have a new baby on the way, then head over to Petit Mouton, have a look around, then come back here and tell me which other Petit Mouton product you love! I am sure you will find many other soakers and accessories that you won't be able to resist!

Additional entries will be granted for all of the following (leave a separate comment for each)- these entries only count AFTER you complete the above challenge:

• Visit Petit Mouton and tell me where the company is located (the About Us section)
• Being a follower (right sidebar)
• Being a subscriber via e-mail (left sidebar)
• Having the Summer of Baby Love or Mama Kenz Studio button on your blog (also in left sidebar)
• Blogging about the giveaway (leave the link to your direct post)
• Following on Twitter and tweeting about the giveaway (leave your screen name and the time you tweeted)
• 2 extra entries for participating in any meme during this giveaway (leave the direct link to your meme post)

The giveaway will end Friday, August 15, 2009 @ 9:00 PST. Winner will be posted and notified that weekend. For full details and rules about the Sumer of Baby Love Blog Party, please visit this post.

Chic Cheeks- The CDing World!

This past week I have found a couple of things going on in the cloth world that I thought I would pass along to all of you!

First off, there is a great new community called Cloth Diaper Bloggers that I am sure a lot of you would love! It was started by Kim from Dirty Diaper Laundry and it is just getting rolling! There are carnivals being planned and lots of fun cloth talk, so head on over and check it out!

Also, Real Diaper Association is hosting a fluffy photo contest for pics to put in their first ever calendar! How fun to have your baby featured on a month!

In honor of the contest I thought we could all post our prospective entry photos this week for Chic Cheeks!

(My pic will be coming- I promise!)

So, post your pics, include the Chic Cheeks button and come back here to post your direct link to the MckLinky! Can't wait to see your cute babes!

Winner of Happy Mama Originals!

The winner of the Happy Mama Originals sample pack of mama cloth is:

anathica

I will be contacting you today! Be sure to e-mail me back ASAP!
Congrats!

I Was Here... Breastfeeding! World Breastfeeding Week!

Did you know that August 1 marked the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week? What better week to get out there and nurse those babes in public, changing people's perception of what is normal when it comes to feeding babies?!

To celebrate this week I wanted to point out a few sites for you ladies to check out! The first is, of course, the official World Breastfeeding Week site from LLL. They even have a page that lists local events going on this week, so be sure to check it out to find the one nearest you!

The second is a blog called Breastfeeding 1-2-3 and it has lots of awesome info about this week plus other fun support for breastfeeding moms.

Lastly, I wanted to get the word out about another event that will be happening on October 3- it is called the Global Breastfeeding Challenge and they are trying to organize events all over the country to set a record for the most babies nursing at one time! So far, the US only has 2 events scheduled (Canada has 53!), so I think we really need to step up to the plate ladies, and see about upping that number dramatically! What do you all think!?

As usual, I would also love for all of you to link up your latest breastfeeding pics! Include the I Was Here... Breastfeeding button in your post then come back here and put the direct link in the MckLinky! Can't wait for you all to share!

Now, go celebrate!

And the winners are...

The winner of the Earth Mama Angel Baby Postpartum Herbs is:
Momof3dolls

The winner of Blue Like Playdough is:
{lauren}
(haha- you do well on my blog!)

Congrats ladies! I will be contacting you through your blogs and will need to hear back from you by Tuesday in order for you to claim your prize!