Giveaways

Whew! I first need to thank all of the contest winners and participating businesses in the Cloth Diaper Extravaganza for their great patience in waiting for me to coordinate sending the winner's shipping information to the business. I have just completed that tedious task, so if you don't receive your item(s) within a reasonable amount of time then please let me know! All of the Snappis have also been mailed out except for the folks in Canada who I'm working things out with. Thank you--everyone--for your participation and help in making the event so spectacular!

Coming in early September, I'll be doing a few "back to school" giveaways including See Kai Run shoes, Snack Taxi bags, and a gift certificate. Following, I have a huge "green cleaning" event with some incredibly fabulous products to review and giveaway from Mrs. Meyer's, Seventh Generation, and Activeion. You will not want to miss either of these events!

Did you know that sometimes I put "extra entry" opportunities in non-contest postings? Be sure to read through the postings about sun protection in particular, hint, hint.

No one has entered the Sportbrella contest yet, and I'm guessing it's because I've made it to be too much work. Seriously, people, you want to win this product even though you may not realize it. It is certainly worth the five minutes it will take you to compile a Top Ten list...and you can make your list as silly as you want! Send me some entries already!

note: no offense is intended with the Obama "I WON!" image. I am not likening any of my readers to our president, so don't worry. Just laugh. You know you want to.

PIF- Sandwich Swap & Share Program

Don't have the money to clothe orphans? Don't have the time to volunteer for your local fire department? Well now you can provide 91 meals for hungry people by spending only a few minutes of your time on a fun activity.

As moms, we know that no matter what lunch we prepare for our kids, they always seem to want to swap sandwiches with their friends once they get to the cafeteria at school! When it comes to the time-honored tradition of swapping sandwiches, our kids may be having all the fun. Luckily, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Mayonnaise has teamed up with musician and actor Billy Ray Cyrus to encourage people of all ages to celebrate their favorite childhood ritual and join the virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program to raise money for Feeding America®, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

For every sandwich created as part of the virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program on Facebook.com/hellmanns Hellmann's® and Best Foods® will donate 7 lunches to Feeding America®. If that isn't enough to get you to click over right now, you just might win something, too! Each sandwich created will automatically enter you for a chance to win a $250 grocery store gift certificate. And for every friend on Facebook® that you share your sandwich with, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® will donate an additional 7 lunches to the charity. (note: the previous two paragraphs were copied directly out of an E-mail sent to me by MomSelect)

I created my first sandwich and sent it to friends just now...it's addicting! The program is made with fast loading fun graphics that allow you to create a sandwich by choosing from a variety of breads, a billion meats (including lobster claws!), cheeses, veggies (felafel, anyone?), and toppings. You can go for the perfect sandwich (like I did with my "veggie-cheese-delight") or the most atrocious sandwich by piling the eggs and sardines sky high! After creating your sandwich, the website allows you to log in to your Facebook account and share your sandwich with 12 people. Only one sandwich can be made and shared per day, meaning that you'll be providing a whopping 91 sandwiches to hungry people every day that you do this (the program continues until 1159 hours on October 30, 2009).

It's fun, easy, and worth it to feed the hungry in America. Pay it forward!

Sportbrella Review & Giveaway

SKLZ, a company that supplies sports related items and equipment, sent me an interesting tool that protects people from the elements: a Sportbrella. Just imagine what Mary Poppin's umbrella would have looked like if it was red and she was a giant and you'll have a picture of what the Sportbrella looks like.

Offering 50+ UV protection thanks to a special lining in the materials of the umbrella, this is a tool that I will never go to a ball game without again. It folds up like any other umbrella, closing by the push of a button and having a strap with velcro on it to secure everything together when not in use. To open the umbrella, one simply needs to undo the velcro strap and push up on the canopy part. The canopy fluidly opens without a big flying motion but still without much effort on the operator's part. Another nice thing? It comes in three different colors!

My favorite thing about the Sportbrella (other than the size that would allow my entire 10-person family to stand underneath it) is that you can either hold it over your head (and the other 7 people near you) or you can easily set it up on the ground to create a shelter. The stake that allows for this stores itself within the umbrella pole, and the wings that come down on the sides of the umbrella snap right back up again when you don't want them. I know that softball season is over this year, but I can't wait to go next year and hang out under my Sportbrella while Amara and I watch Ron play! Picnics, rainstorms—I'm full of plans for this thing.

Buy it: The Sportbrella costs $69.99 and is available through the SKLZ website with free shipping for a limited time. I realize this is a hefty price for some people to pay, but it seems sturdy enough to last for a very long time and it will give you a lot of peace and mind (not to mention comfort) if you're outdoors a lot in the summer. Not to mention all of the sunscreen you'll be able to save over the years!

Win it: SKLZ is giving one lucky reader of mine the chance to win a Sportbrella of her or his own. Since this is a pretty awesome prize, you are going to have to work a little bit for it. The required entry is that you compile a Top Ten list of uses for the Sportbrella. I will choose the winning entry based on the following:

(out of 15 points total)
10 points- creativity
5 points- presentation, including following the format directions below
3 points- correct spelling and grammar as applicable

BONUS 2 points- visit SKLZ website and tell me one other item that you like of theirs. Include it in a note at the bottom of your Top Ten list.

Your entry can be shared through a written list, song, YouTube video (send me the link), artwork, or anything else that you can think of! Email your entry to lifemoresimply(@)yahoo(.)com by September 8, 2009 at 2359 hours, EST. I reserve the right to share any contest entry on my Blog (please note if you do NOT want your name used). Please follow the formating directions below:

Title of email: Sportbrella Contest Entry
Body of email:
Name
Email address
Age (child, teen, adult)

Entry (mention here if I need to visit YouTube or open an attached image or something to view your entry)

BONUS entry (not mandatory)

bumGenius One Size Diaper Review

bumGenius provides cloth diapers and accessories to the US and many countries around the world. They are the first company I've seen to have diapers sold in chain stores (Target), unless you want to count the Gerber “pre-fold” diapers that aren't good for anything other than burp cloths. My first exposure to a bumGenius diaper was actually at Target before my daughter was born. We looked at the diaper in the baby department but ended putting it back in our cart. If I had known what I do now, we definitely would have purchased that diaper!

BumGenius sent me a one size diaper in their Zinnia color to try on Amara. I found it to be the trimmest one size diaper we've reviewed and I love the color. Most cloth diaper companies share the same color palette, but bumGenius seems to have quite a few colors unavailable through other companies including the Zinnia one. Two inserts come with the diaper—one whose length can be adjusted with a snap and the other which is shorter and thinner but great for throwing in as extra absorbency at night.

Closed by velcro type tabs, a neat thing is that the fabric attaching the tabs has more stretch to it than the rest of the diaper cover. I imagine that this creates more comfort for baby as their bellies aren't always in the same place and shape throughout the day, and this will allow for a little “give” while still keeping the diaper snug. I have found throughout the two or so months

that we've been using the diaper that the tabs have gotten slightly fuzzier than when we first received the diaper. The edges of the tab can also be scratchy against bare skin, so watch out if you co-sleep with your baby. As for the adhesion strength, I have had two times when the diaper came undone while she was sleeping. The diaper didn't come off, but one side did come undone. You may want to put pajama bottoms or something over the diaper when your child's sleeping for this reason.

The inside of the diaper is the softest diaper fabric I've felt aside from bamboo valour. It seems to be a cotton blend valour and is oh-so-soft on the skin. The back of this diaper also uses this fabric to create an overlap of the pocket area opening. This keeps your insert from the dreaded leaks that can occur of the insert works its way up the diaper and out the opening since the insert now can't get out of the diaper. As long as the diaper's snug on Amara, we haven't had any leaks with this diaper even at night.

The only improvement I would want to make for this diaper would be a snap system instead of velcro. It's harder to get on, but it definitely wouldn't come undone and would be harder for Amara to figure out when she's older. Even without that though, I think this is a high quality diaper and great for the price!

Buy it: visit http://www.CottonBabies.com to buy them from their sister company!

Understanding UV Rays

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of light. The spectrum of colors that allow us to see things is actually dependent upon how long or short a wave length the light for that color is. The shorter the length, the bluer the color, with violet being the shortest color that humans can see. Hence the name "ultraviolet" when referring to light that we can't perceive with our eyes. We are able to sense UV rays in other forms though, such as heat and also the effects that it can leave us with such as a burn. UV radiation is an electromagnetic wave which is shorter than visible light but longer than an X-ray wave. It's amazing to me how powerful something that we can't see really is! Did you know that the government actually forecasts the UV intensity like a regular weather forecast? Knowing the UV intensity of the area you live in on a particular day can help you decide how much protection you'll need from the sun. The following gadget and information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/.

1-2 LOW

You can safely enjoy being outside. Wear sunglasses on bright days. If you burn easily, cover up and use sunscreen SPF 15+.
In winter, reflection off snow can nearly double UV strength.

3-5 MODERATE
Take precautions if you will be outside, such as wearing a hat and sunglasses and using sunscreen SPF 15+. Reduce your exposure to the sun's most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.

6-7 HIGH
Protection against sun damage is needed. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, use sunscreen SPF 15+ and wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants when practical. Reduce your exposure to the sun's most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.

8-10 VERY HIGH
Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade.
Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.

11+ EXTREME
Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade.
Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.

Skin Cancer Facts

The following information is taken directly from the UV Skinz website at http://www.uvskinz.com/8facts.aspx . Take the time to read it--you may read something that will save your life. Enter to win your own piece of UVP clothing from UV Skinz here! Earn an extra entry in the contest by sharing another fact about UV rays or skin cancer here (different than the ones in this blog post) and then mentioning that you commented here on the actual contest post. Contest ends 9/03/09 at noon, EST.

1. More than 90% of skin cancer is caused by sun exposure.
The UV rays of the sun are responsible for non-melanoma skin cancers. Unprotected exposure to these rays can be from being outdoors, tanning booths, and even through your car or home windows.

2. Each hour, 1 person dies from skin cancer.
About 2,800 people will die of non-melanoma skin cancer and about 8,000 will die of melanoma in the U.S. this year. The sad thing is that many of these deaths could have been prevented by simply protecting ones self from the sun.

3. Skin cancer accounts for more than 50% of all cancers combined.
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among men and women.

4. More than one million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.5 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year.

5. Skin cancer is most deadly for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos.
Although the risk factor is rather low for African Americans, Asians, and Latinos, skin cancer can be the most deadly for these groups.

6. 1 in 3 Caucasians will be diagnosed with skin cancer sometime in their life.
1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed in their lifetime with skin cancer. The risk factor is higher for Caucasians, with it being in 1 in 3.

7. One bad burn in childhood doubles the risk factor for melanoma later in life.
Protecting children against UV exposure is essential for skin health into adulthood. A blistering sun burn during childhood increases the risk of melanoma as an adult. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

8. Men are diagnosed with skin cancer more often than women.
According to the American Cancer Society, men are twice as likely to develop skin cancer over women. In fact, it is more common than prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer in men over 50. This makes skin cancer the most common cancer in men over 50.

UV Skinz Review + Giveaway!

I've recently been reading other blog reviews about UV Skinz clothing but didn't realize how great the clothing actually is until being sent an outfit for my daughter a few weeks ago. I'm completely hooked now and tell everyone I know about the company! You won't be dissapointed by the feel, fit, colors, or purpose of these garments.

Here's the reason behind UV Skinz according to its creator, Rhonda Sparks:

I started UV Skinz after losing my 32-year-old husband to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It was this experience and having to raise our three little boys on my own that gave me the drive and determination to educate consumers about the importance of proper sun protection any chance I can get, while still not losing site of how valuable it is to PLAY and HAVE FUN outdoors!

UV Skinz is a line of clothing and accessories that provide 50+ UV protection even when wet--that means protection from 98% of the sun's harmful UV rays! I asked Rhonda how this works, and she said that the type of fabric and weave traditionally helps or hurts the UV protection, but that UV Skinz also uses a "special additive before the weaving/knitting even begins that helps bind the fabric more tightly when wet OR dry." Two interesting facts about this: 1) "50+" is the highest UVP (UV protection) rating that clothing can have, and 2) a regular shirt has a UVP factor of 7 when dry and 4 when wet.

Rhonda sent us the Olivia style baby swimshirt and matching bright pink board shorts for Amara to try. She was on the brink of two sizes so I went with the bigger, and I'm so glad that I did because they fit her now and will hopefully fit next year, too! I love that the shirt is slim but not tight. It stretches to easily fit over hear head and doesn't appear to be anything but completely comfortable. The shorts are so stylish that my teenage sisters were asking me if UV Skinz sold the same pair in Jr. sizes! We've used the shorts over both a re-usable swim diaper and cloth pocket diaper and it fit well both times. After getting wet, the outfit was still easier to take off than a swimsuit would be!

Needless to say, I really like the quality of the outfit we were sent and I want one for myself now. The good news is that UV Skinz has a line of adult sized items and they're having a big sale right now so you can get some great deals! Honestly. I couldn't find anything that I didn't like about the outfit we tried.

Buy It: Visit http://www.uvskinz.com/

Win It: Rhonda is graciously offering to give one lucky reader of mine one item of his or her choice from the UV Skinz site...for free! Mandatory entry- visit UV Skinz and choose your item. Decide wisely because this is what you'll get if you win. Please include size/color if applicable.

Additional Entries: leave a separate comment for each entry and include your email address.

- Blog about this contest including a link

- Sport my button (L.H. side of my blog page)

- Subscribe to me or follow me

- Subscribe to UV Skinz newsletter (upper L.H. side of their main page)

- Follow UV Skinz on Tweeter (upper L.H. side of their main page)

- Tweet about this contest (1x/day)

- Otherwise spread the word (let me know)!

Contest ends Thursday, September 3, 2009 at noon, EST.

Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit Review

Seventh Generation is a company dedicated to creating non-toxic, eco-friendly household products in an environmentally responsible way. Their products can be found online and in stores nation wide and include: 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers and accessories; and chlorine-free feminine care products. A full review of their company and other products not featured here (+ another giveaway) is coming up soon, so check back often.

They recently sent me their Living Home Starter Kit to review which I loved so much that I even gave some of the products away to friends so that they could experience Seventh Generation products first hand as well. You can win your own Living Home Starter Kit (see below), but you will need to act immediately as the contest ends 3 hours from when I'm posting this!

Here's what you'll find in the Living Home Starter Kit:

Glass Cleaner- Ruby Red Grapefruit

Effective and smells sweet. I'm still a vinegar & water kind of girl, but if I was to buy a commercial glass cleaner, this would be a great choice. The ruby red grapefruit scent is energizing and my favorite of the scents.

All Purpose Cleaner- Green Mandarin and Leaf

I used this to clean counter tops in my kitchen and bathroom. It worked well and didn't leave any residue behind that I could see or feel. The smell is earthy.

Shower Cleaner- Green Mandarin and Leaf

I haven't used this long enough to determine the lasting effects, but it was easy to spray on and didn't appear to leave streaks. I did find that the fumes were strong when confined to a bathtub sized space, so I did turn the fan on and close the door until they subsided a bit. The green mandarin and leaf has an earthy sort of smell. In case you don't know what a "shower cleaner" really is, it's simply a concoction that you spray on to the shower surfaces every day and it helps to eliminate soap scum and other build ups.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner- Emerald Cypress and Fir

I love a toilet cleaner that doesn't have a bleach smell! The scent of this cleaner does remind me a little bit of Pinesol (probably the "fir" component), but is nicer with the cypress thrown into the mix. It cleaned well and didn't require tons to do the job.

Tub and Tile Cleaner- Emerald Cypress and Fir

Requires a normal amount of scrubbing but does get the job done. Rinses off pretty well and has a plesant woodsy scent.

Kitchen Cleaner- Wild Orange and Cedar Spice

This scent is wonderful! It's the perfect mix between woods and sweetness. This was my favorite product to try--it is simple and fast to use, and made things look and smell a lot cleaner. I also liked that I don't have to worry about if it touches something that we use for eating since it's a whole lot safer than traditional cleaners that contain horrid chemicals!

Natural Paper Towels- 120 Count

These are thinner and not as soft as the upper class paper towels one can buy in the store. I didn't have any problem with them deteriorating while I used them though--they hold up well. The absorbency is good and comparable to other similar towels. Being recycled and unbleached, I enjoy the brown color that they naturally come in as well.

Seventh Generation Reusable Tote

The tote is the perfect size to hold all of these cleaning products, and it comes with a plastic piece that you can lay in the bottom of the tote for added stability. At first, I wondered if I needed one more tote in my house, but am thrilled to have it since realizing how handy it is for storing and lugging cleaning supplies around.

If you can only get a few products, I would recommend the all purpose cleaner, shower cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner. With these three things, most everything can be accomplished! A big thanks to Seventh Generation for sponsering this giveaway and review!

Circles & Points

I have been struggling the last few days with the following dilemma:

wear a sweater over my polo shirt and sweat to death (amidst answering the question of "why are you wearing a sweater when it's 88f degrees out?!")

or

don't wear the sweater and show the world round circles over wear my baby-feeders are with nip-ons in the middle of that. (Woah, did I really just say that on a public blog?)

I don't know how pumping-mama's do it. I mean, seriously, it's embarrassing to glance in the mirror and see 4" circular indentations in my shirt from the nursing pads I put in my bra. Take the pads out, and you can only see the pointiness that a pump creates even better. Even with the pads, though, the points remain. If you've never experienced this, just grab a breast pump and give it a whirl. Your husband will be grateful. The rest of the world may stare.

Here is my Top Ten idea list of what to do, since the above isn't working:

1. Duct tape the points down after each pumping session.

2. Stuff socks into my bra instead of nursing pads.

3. Wear a coat. Oh wait, that's the same problem of the sweater.

4. Just push them back down. All of the time.

5. Strongly padded bra. Like a 12-layer bra.

6. Ace bandage around my torso.

7. Pump by hand and carry a cloth around to soak up any leaks.

8. Potato-sack dresses.

9. Find clay that sticks to skin, and sculpt up and over the issue after each pumping. This will both contain any leakage and smooth any points.

10. Scream at anyone who dares look below my neck.

Please, add your ideas below. Mine don't seem to be working...

Seventh Generation Contest & Giveaway--READ SOON!

Preface: Seventh Generation is a company that provides high quality non toxic cleaning products while always keeping the environment in mind. What keeps them going? Remembering that what we do and the choices we make will impact the next seven generations to come. Check back tomorrow for a review of their Living Home Starter Kit!

Seventh Generation is hosting an “Under the Sink Makeover Contest” that asks you to reveal your best friend’s dirtiest secrets – those hiding under the kitchen sink that is! With the area under the kitchen sink as a family’s typical dumping ground for chemical products, Seventh Generation wants families nationwide to know about – and detox – this potentially hazardous area, usually within arm’s reach of kids. Enter soon--the contest ends tomorrow, August 14, at 12:00am EST!

To enter, all you need to do is visit their website at www.SeventhGeneration.com/under-the-sink and submit up to a 250-word description of why your friend deserves an under the sink makeover (e.g., she’s concerned for the health of her family and the environment, the area under her sink a toxic wasteland, she’s overwhelmed by the chaos of motherhood and wants to change but doesn’t know where to begin, etc.). You can also submit a photo of the hazardous area for an extra bonus!

One lucky grand prize winner will receive a package that includes:
· An in-home consultation at the friend’s house with Dr. Alan Greene, practicing pediatrician and specialist in green living
· A one year supply of Seventh Generation products for both the entrant and the friend in need
· A trip to New York City for the entrant and her friend that includes a one-night stay at the W New York – Times Square hotel
· A day of pampering at New York’s Green Spa that will include a Body Polish, Wellness Massage, Ocean Vegan Spa Manicure/Pedicure along with a one hour make-up application and lesson

Four other finalists and their friends will receive a Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit containing a variety of home-cleaning products for their own under the kitchen sink makeover, in addition to a luxurious Lavera home spa kit containing Lavera’s customer favorite BODY SPA shower gel, body scrub and bath salts, and premium LAVERÉ Anti-Aging body lotion to pamper themselves.

Not sure that you can think of an entry good enough to win? Write one anyway, because your odds of winning something just dramatically increased...Seventh Generation is also giving away a Living Home Starter kits to one of my readers! You only have until tomorrow, 8/14 at 12AM EST, so get typing now. Here's how to enter:

-First, enter the Under the Sink Makeover contest. You really don't have to do much--just write a paragraph (or a few sentences) explaining why someone you know needs to win.

-Second, comment on this post telling me why you want to win (and get a year's worth of cleaning supplies + a fantastic spa trip to NYC). Include an email address or your entry will be deleted.

I will choose the winner based on the entry that most convinces me that you need to win. If I can't decide, I will choose a winner at random. Whomever I choose, Seventh Generation will be verifying that you did in fact enter their contest, so don't try to cheat! Good luck and get busy writing; who knows--15 minutes out of your life may pay for a whole year to come!

*NOTE: if fewer than 5 people enter, I reserve the right to let Seventh Generation choose or not choose a winner*

My FiOS Entertainment Upgrade Contest

I was recently contacted by Verizon about doing some PR for them regarding their My FiOS contest. At first, I was excited because they were going to pay me a little for the post, and frankly, the money is very handy when paying for shipping prizes that my readers win! I didn't think I'd be able to do the post, though, because it involved making a video and posting it online. No problem, except that I can't upload videos from my camera to anything but my camera. That's another story in itself. Needless to say, I told Verizon this and the responded with "well, post anyway" a few days later. Since I don't have Internet at my home (again, money), I didn't receive their email until today. Now I really don't know if I'm going to receive any compensation for this post, but after I checked out their contest, I decided that it doesn't matter! The prizes that they're offering are too good to not tell you about!

Here's what you can win:

-A webcam (I'd love to give this to my sister since her husband will be deployed overseas soon after their first baby is born) and 40" LCD HDTV

-A 40" LCD HDTV and notebook PC (*eyes grow big and happy*)

-Grand Prize:

One (1) 55" Flat Screen LCD HDTV
One (1) 40" Flat Screen LCD HDTV
One (1) 5.1-Channel Blu-ray® Disc Player Home Theater System
One (1) Wireless Surround Sound Speaker Kit
One (1) Notebook PC
Free Verizon FiOS® service for one (1) 12 month period

Once I realized that it's more than just televisions (nope, not a big fan of TV), I'm now hooked. The thought of surround speakers, a TV that we don't have to squint at that allows us to not only watch shows, but FiOS would also give us the opportunity to watch EDUCATIONAL and interesting things as well as play games and receive information, a computer...Yeah, I would NOT mind having those things. To win the grand prize, you must upload a short video describing why you deserve to win. The contest is only open to NY and NJ residents, and I just read that the leading video only has 794 votes. So...I'm thinking that if I figure out a way to upload a video, everyone could vote for me each time that they load a page on my blog. Within four days, that would equal 1,076 votes which totally outdoes the leading video...hmmm...This has possibilities! Just think, if I won, it'd benefit you too, because Internet access is included meaning I'd be able to post on my Blog more often. ;-)

Four Grand Prize winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. Four recipients of the TV/Camera will be chosen based on the number of votes from the public that they receive (all of the videos are posted on the contest site). 14 winners will be chosen at random just for voting for a video. The contest ends in four days on August 16, so you need to get right on this if you want to win anything. Go to http://www.myfioshome.com/ to upload your own video or to vote for someone else.

Did you or would you enter this contest? Why or why not? And the bigger question, if I can get a video uploaded, will you vote for me? ;-)

Extravaganza Extended + another Snappi Giveaway

Well my Blogging has taken a back seat these last few days. I spent Saturday-Monday up at Watkins Glen International Race Track as a paramedic for the NASCAR events (curious as to what I was doing? Check out this YouTube video. Tuesday was blissfully spent with my family, so I wasn't really too interested in trecking to the Library for Internet usage. Today, I'm back at the daily grind in my windowless office, so here I am!

Needless to say, I didn't get to choose any winners for the Cloth Diaper Extravaganza contests. So let's extend them! All of the contest (not including the daily Snappi giveaway) are officially extended until Friday, August 14 at 0730 hours (EST). And, I also want to offer another pair of Snappis to my fantastic readers! Here's how it will work:

- For each Cloth Diaper Extravaganza Contest that you entered, you may enter once here (so one entry per contest).

- Leave a separate comment for each entry, telling me which contest you already entered. I will be checking to make sure that you actually did!

- Include a valid email address in each entry. No email address = no winner. Unfortunately, this happens quite often. :-( Don't let it happen to you!

This contest will also end on Friday, August 14 at 0730 hours, EST. Good luck and be blessed!

Petunias Feature & Discount

Don't have a wet bag yet, but want to get a cute one at a discounted price? As seen in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine (July, '09) and Wild Blue Yonder Magazine (July, '09), Petunias offers their trade marked "ICKY Bag." The Icky Bag is a zippered wet bag that comes in various sizes, made with waterproof ProCare and fun fabric with a lightly padded snap shut handle. The great thing about having a ProCare lining is that it is:

• Highly abrasion resistant (40 times greater than vinyl)
• Mildew proof
• Waterproof
• Washable and dry cleanable
• and Soil wipes off with a damp cloth
  

Petunias doesn't stop at Icky Bags, though. They also offer 5x5" reusable snack bags, bibs, zipper pouches, organizers, and pocketbooks! Who would have thought that so many things could be made with fabric, waterproof material, snaps, and zippers? All of her fabrics are posted online at http://petuniasfabrics.blogspot.com/. I'm not sure where she's found all of this beautiful material, but looking at them alone just inspires creativity!

When looking through Petunia's other blog at http://petuniasbykelly.blogspot.com/, I found out that some of the proceeds from each purchase are donated to World Vision or CRWRC. This definitely warms my heart as I also support each of these organizations. If you don't already know about them, definitely Google them--they help provide sustainable living physically and spiritually to children and families around the globe.

My favorite thing that I've seen on her sites is actually not an ICKY Bag, though. It is a shopping cart handle cover. It's a brilliant idea! Less cumbersome than an entire shopping cart seat cover, and more interactive for your child, too.

Buy it now! Through August 15, 2009, Petunias will be giving you 10% off of your order (shipping not included) if you use the code LMSBLOG10.

Silicone Water-Guard Correction

I must apologize to all of my readers and the Atsko company! I accidentally referenced the product and information for Atsko's "Silicone Water-Guard" during the review that was actually for their "Permanent Water-Guard" on July 21, 2009. A big oops!

What made me catch the mistake? An anonymous reader! Someone left the question "holy smokes! My only concern is, are these chemicals safe for baby to wear against skin or simply be inhaled?" after reading my blog entry, which prompted me to contact my friends at Atsko to find out the answer to this reasonable concern. This was their answer this:

"Silicone Water-Guard is not the best choice for the diaper shells. Silicone washes away in a couple of washes so there is also the possibility of exposure. Permanent Water-Guard is guaranteed for 25 washes. Nothing is coming off in babies perspiration. It requires dryer heat after it dries but certainly well worth the trouble since you will probably never have to apply it again."

So glad I contacted them! The original blog post has been updated with the correct information that I didn't have the first time, so everything you read there is now accurate. The product for the giveaway is the Permanent Water-Guard, not the Silicone Water-Guard.

In an effort to make up for my mistake a little bit, I'm offering this to my readers:

*Earn an two additional entries to win the Permanent Water-Guard by simply visitng Atsko's website and telling me one difference between the Permanent and Sillicone Water-Guards. You must visit their website! (leave two separate comments with an email address on the original blog post--not this one)

*The first person to tell me one thing that I posted on the original one and what information has now replaced it will earn 5 additional entries! (leave five separate comments with an email address on the original blog post--not this one)

There's More!

SURPRISE!

Wait--there's more?! There's still a few blog posts waiting to happen (today, maybe?) for the Cloth Diaper Extravaganza. A happy surprise, right? Keep your eyes out for the following:

*bumGenius One Size diaper review (with oh-so-cute photos)

*correction to the silicone-water-guard review (the product I was actually trying to write about is the permanent water-guard...a little different makes a big difference!)

*Discount code for any orders at Petunias (wet bags, bibs, and a lot of other stuff, too)

*One more chance to snag a Snappi!

Help! I can't make milk!

For working mamas, there are only a few things worse than not being able to pump enough breast milk for your baby. I mean, really, not only do we have to entrust someone else with our children each day (my mother-in-law actually took my almost-9-month-old daughter SWIMMING in an in-ground pool with no adult in the pool (she was held by other children) last week. This was after we had already asked her to not do such a thing. So I missed my daughter's first pool experience, she wasn't wearing the special UV-protective swimming clothes that I have from her (from UV Skinz--I'll be doing a giveaway from them here shortly!), and I'm left worrying about her safety because I really think it's not unreasonable to want an adult in the pool with a non-swimming baby!), but we also have to swallow the fact that we don't really know what goes on in our precious baby's life, don't get to make all of the decisions, and that other people get to spend more waking hours with our babies than we do! On top of all of these every day realities, if that milk supply is down, so is my mental stability.

I had a mental breakdown last week after the swimming incident. It took me all of Friday, Saturday, and half of Sunday to recover. Here we are on Monday now, and I only got three hard earned ounces out when pumping. My daughter will probably drink 6-8oz in a feeding, but for about a week now I've been really low in supply. I'm lucky to get 4 ounces out at one time! For any mom who doesn't pump (working or stay-at-home), you may not understand the mental importance of producing enough milk for your baby. If I can't be with my daughter, I at least want to be able to provide nourishment for her. I feel like if I can't even do that, then what good am I as a mother? *sigh* So I will spend today in my windowless cubicle chugging water and drinking "Mother's Milk" tea, praying that I can make enough milk for my beautiful baby to drink tomorrow.

Research on how to produce more milk come later if I have time (I know about resting and nursing a lot--we did that all weekend!), but can anyone help me in the mean time? Please leave me any tips that you have on how to make more milk!

Much love and blessings.