I'm an Earthy Girl!

I never ever ever ever thought I'd try them.  I'd heard of them, but in a million years I would never have said that I'd be reviewing them first hand.  "They" are cloth pads.  In specific, Earthy Girls cloth pads.

I'd seen a post from someone on Facebook about the harmful chemicals contained in disposable (plastic) pads and tampons, and honestly, I was gobsmacked.  I read the list of reactions people had experienced, and things as simple as itching, sweating and rashes stood out to me.  The major things, like birth defects (OMG!!) frankly scared the pants off me!  I'm not one for dramatisation or scare mongering, but this really got me riled.  So, I made a decision to change my pad habits..  (get it? PAD habits? ... never mind ..)

Literally days after making such a determined choice, I received an email from Bumpy Buns - a cloth nappying site - and they had an irresistibly priced range of ladies essentials (cloth pads are expensive, a lot like modern cloth nappies).  Anyway, a dozen clicks, and $210 later, I was set for a lifetime of cloth, chemical free periods.

You can purchase in packs of 3, or singles, as well as a great value 'kit' (below).

Since then, I've had the opportunity to try them.  I have to say, I'm converted!  This particular brand isn't necessarily the most physically appealing range, with some (sorry to say) dowdy prints and not so pretty natural hessian-type coloured lining.  But, they do work, and they aren't really on display, so that sort of doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.  They didn't leak, even over night, and they are OH SO comfy to wear - kind of like a soft, thin pillow underneath you...

I was pleasantly surprised that smell wasn't an issue.  Neither was staining.  All in all, I didn't deal with even remotely as many hiccups as I had anticipated.  I feel that the investment I made was well and truly worth it, considering what I'm saving in not having to by pads (ever again!).

The next trial will be the "cup", which honestly doesn't thrill me at all.  But, I'll do it, because my curiosity will get the better of me eventually.

Thanks Earthy Girls, for making cloth pads so affordable (even if the patterns are a little ugly..) ;o)

A. xo

The "Plain Truth" of it all...

Recently, my family and I went on a super fantastic camping trip!  We bathed in pure nature, soaked up sun, and swam in F.U.N!  Usually, though, in between all that awesomeness, we read.  Read over breakfast, read over coffee, read at lunch... etc etc etc.  We found a cute little servo along our travels which sold second hand books.  After rummaging around the musty, dusty pre-loved covers, I stumbled across an incredible book by the ever popular Jodi Picoult.

Let me introduce you to one heck of a well written book... Plain Truth.

Plain Truth is a story about, literally, being plain.  Katie, an 18 year old Amish girl, gives birth early one morning, quietly, secretly, in the milking sheds on her family's farm.  Scared, alone, and unwed, she prays to God to take care of the situation she has found herself in, and falls asleep, babe in arms.  When she awakens, she finds the baby and all evidence of it's birth gone, and concludes that her prayers have been somehow answered.  The following morning, when the baby is found dead, events of the previous night begin to unfold.  The truth however remains unknown, at least to Katie, if not to everyone else.

I rode a roller coaster of grief, confusion, frustration and anger while reading this book.  It opened my eyes to a unique life, that I know very little about - being Amish.  I felt a new reverence for the conviction of those who choose to live the "Plain" life, and almost a tinge of jealousy at its simplicity and purity.  Jodi shows them a lot of respect in her writing, which I liked a lot.

Fragments of the story delve into real, raw emotion that plagues even the strongest conscience, forcing you to take sides - only to change your mind at the next revelation.  When it came time to challenge the legal system, I found myself in disbelief some of the time, as some of the framework for the story was a little shaky, but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment at any point.

The gooey romance gets a little too much at times, comparable to a Mills & Boon uber-drama (without the "steam" factor)...

Overall, thoroughly recommended reading.  It's remarkably relatable and sincere, as well as full of conversation starters!  Go on, mummies, take some time out for tea, biscuits, and a good book!

If you've read it, let me know your thoughts!

A. xo

**HAA-YA!**

Hey, so, this isn't so much of a review as it is a plug...  but I figure that's ok here...

I recently stumbled upon a groovy gal named Renee Sanson, who is the owner of "Ninja Cupcake Collection" -- very funky hand sewn singlets and shirts, with blankets, girls jackets and skirts coming soon.  Her collection makes you think of sunshine lollipops, rainbows and rolling down grassy hills on a sunny day...  :o)

To check out her blog, and enter her comp, click HERE!

The name is actually even cooler than it first sounds:  "Ninja" is her boy collection, and "Cupcake" is for the misses.  Creative, right??  I thought so...  Good news is, the creativity doesn't stop there!

I have simply fallen in love with her gorgeously unique and fresh designs, and I wanted to share them with you!  The best thing is, she does sweet boys stuff too!!  I love little girly things, don't get me wrong... but I have a little guy to style, and it's possibly just me, but I find it really hard to get awesomely cute little guy stuff.  NOT ANYMORE! Yaaaayyyy!!

I'll be buying up big once my Eli gets into proper toddler sizing, and my suggestion is, if you want your kid to be cool, you need get some Ninja Cupcake onto them too!

Here's some pics to get you interested:

If you're not keen now, you can't be convinced!!

PS:  Find her on Facebook for more pictures, prices, and info on how to order!

Go spend some $$$!!

A. xo

Something for Bedtime...

It might sound a little silly to you, but I've always loved the thought of kids having a special toy or "blankie" that they never wanted to put down.  Up until now, I hadn't found anything Eli loved that much.  That was, until I noticed him sucking all the tags on his toys...  Luckily for me, and I guess, for him too, I have found just the right thing....

Taggies!! 

(Aussies, click here for stockist)

These uber cool little blankets are amazingly cute, and Eli LOVES his!!  I give it to him when I want him to drift off into sleepy land, and I'll be honest, it COMPLETELY works.  He hugs it tight, plays with the tags on one side, while sucking on the tags near his face.  It's soft, cosy, and small enough that it's easy to tuck into your bag without looking like a bedraggled mum with a massive cot doona hanging out from under your arm... You know the ones... 

The "Little Taggies" are 30x30cm, and the "Big Taggies" (I know, simple to remember, right??) are 45x45cm.  I bought one of each, for comparison, and I think while the larger one will be awesome for winter, the smaller one is really all you need.  

I think if there's a negative, it'd be the price.  The small ones retail at around $29.95 and come in a variety of fabrics and colours.  The larger ones are going to set you back $39.95 plus postage.  There are plenty of options with fabrics though, some being organic cottons and others with bright colours in minky type materials.  Aussies don't have as much choice of design as the American market does, but I suppose, depending on how keen you are there, you could always order from the US.

Taggies has a lot of other products too, including cot bedding sets, pillows, balls, toys and onesie suits, all with the signature silky and textured ribbon tags.  You should check out the range - it's truly intelligently designed stuff -- the obvious result of a really smart mum! 

Happy shopping!!

A. xo

XXOO

Cryptic - yes, but you'll get it soon enough...

When I was pregnant, I read heaps.  I read about how my baby was growing, what to expect, how to give birth - naturally... (HA HA HA), and how to breast feed.  To tell you the truth, I was REALLY nervous about it.  I thought for sure I was going to ick out and want to quit within 6 months.  The thought of it, sorta grossed me out -- especially the thought of having to "do it" in front of people.  I was concerned about blankets falling off my shoulder and being bared to all around me... EEEK!!  Fact is, I'd seen it happen, and I'd seen how uncomfortable the women struggling with the coverage were, and I didn't want that to be me.

Luckily, at the Baby Expo in 2008, I discovered the very thing that was going to solve ALL my problems!

>>ENTER "KISS KISS HUG HUG" BREAST FEEDING COVERS<<

(see, I told you you'd get it....)

This little $45 investment has freed me.  I was able to go to the shops, with my newborn - feeding every 2-3 hours - and spend a good half of the day wandering around, stopping at the closest coffee shop to give my son a quick feed.  No one saw anything, and because the breast feeding cover has a loop that hooks over your head and around your neck, I didn't have to struggle with keeping fabric over my nakedness.  I had 2 free hands, and with the boning in the fabric, it sits out from your chest a little bit, so that you can see what you're doing.  DON'T underestimate the importance of seeing... it's not so much about the eye contact with bub, it's more about locating the food source and connecting it to the baby inlet (ie: nipple to mouth).

I think every new mum should have one, and as far as that's concerned - what a great gift right?

The other bonuses, not including the discretion factor, are:

* Baby doesn't get as distracted (because, let's face it, at some point they do wake up from their newborn slumber and realise they haven't seen any of this cool stuff outside the womb before...)
* You don't have to be nervous about disapproving stares - this will happen, don't kid yourself.
* It can double as a cover to help you rock baby to sleep when you're out - makes it darker, warmer, and easier for bub.
* Triples as a pram cover - hook it over the top and it will keep the sun out! Yay!

If I haven't convinced you, you won't be convinced - so I have nothing else to say to you.... :oP

There are heaps of lovely colours and patterns to choose from, including single and double sided, and the soft silky strap is really really comfy.  The only things I can think of that aren't the best is that it's probably slightly narrow in size - I didn't find it dreadful, just thought it would be even better if it had been slightly wider, and also, in summer, the double sided one is quite hot.  They are made of cotton, so they are breathable, but I did find that regardless of that, they are still a little too warm on those really warm days if you're not in aircon.

And that's it!

Go buy one for yourself, or for a friend, and discreetly feed your bub wherever you want! Yay!

A. xo

Oh what a feeling... Strider Plus!

I stalked it.  I lay-bought it.  I took it home and assembled it.  I LOVE IT!  It's my brand spanking new Steelcraft "Strider Plus".  The slogan is something like "Take one, take two; Ready for now, ready for next; No fuss, Strider Plus!"  Now, normally, a catch cry as corny as that would make you feel a little uneasy about spending the $699 + accessories.  BUT, I have to say, I have found this pram to be exceptional in both quality and functionality.  Before I go on and on about that, I'll let you in on a very important lesson that I learned after I purchased my first pram...

I was pretty wide eyed and excited when it came to buying my first pram.  I bought a Bootiq "Duke" stroller and bassinet.  At the time, I spent $500 which I thought was just fabulous, considering all the other stroller/bassinet duo's cost easily that and a half and none of them would fit in my car!  I tried it out in the shop, and it was pretty good.  It was relatively steerable and not too stiff to push.  THAT WAS BECAUSE IT HAD NO WEIGHT IN IT!!

If you are planning on "trying it out" in the shop, put 18kg's in it and see how well it steers then!  The reason this is so important is because you are more than likely going to have one thing in the pram at all times:
A)) The baby, or
B)) your bags/shopping/random crap.

This means that you'll potentially have to push this thing with one hand, or worse, your hip.  If it's impossible to steer with a little weight in it, you're going to hate it and curse it and drop it over your fence so your neighbours have to deal with it.  SO.  There you go.  The reason you need to do a proper trial.


If you plan on having more than one baby, I suggest you get a pram that will be appropriate for more than one baby.  The Strider is perfect for that very purpose because not only does it convert, but it doesn't look stupid with just one seat!  It also folds down with all the attachments on it, as opposed to other prams that need disassembling when you go to stow it in the boot of your car.  With all of these features, you'd think that was it - but nope!  It comes with storm and sun covers included, which means even less hidden costs, both main seat and second seat recline/sit up for newborn or toddler - so you can put them in any configuration, including reversing the top seat.  If all of this sounds confusing, you can always just check out the website.

I guess if I had to identify a negative to it, it would be that it's rather wide at the rear, but if you ask me, that's not so much a negative as it is a great stabiliser.  It feels really nice and solid under your baby, which is comforting on bumpy treks.  Other than that, I can't really see that it's got any really big design errors, cos you can buy pretty much anything you want for it - a bassinet, car seat attachment etc etc.  Oh, and the under-basket is super huge and fantabulous.... :oD


Long story short, I love my new Strider Plus.  It's better than I thought it would be, and I find myself looking for opportunities to use it.  Do yourself a favour and go check one out in the flesh.  I think you'll be pretty glad you did!


A. xo

To Isoki, or not to Isoki, that is the question.

Ok.  So this is not a new product for me - in fact, a friend of mine purchased it for me over a year ago before I had my son.  The Isoki Nappy Bag collection, of which I have the original "Reversible Baby Bag", is fantastic for it's dual functionality - ie. both mum and dad will feel comfortable dragging it around, as they are all reversible.  Back when I got mine, they didn't even make the other types: the Hobo, the 3-in-1 Slouch, the Saddle Tote or the Multi Messenger.  I'm glad they didn't, to be truthful, cos it would have made my choice that much harder.  (Harder than figuring out which pattern I wanted...)

To check out the website, click HERE.

Now, the pros of this bag are the same as it's cons - it's huge!  The amount of times I was the recipient of some humourous remark about the size of the bag or the contents being everything my son owned, was a little off-putting.  HOWEVER... if you are one of those mama's who wants to be prepped for everything - this is your bag!!  You can literally fit clothing, nappies, toys, blankets, bottles, change mat and your own personal belongings into this bag.  It's fabulous for that.  The downside of course to dragging all of that around is the sheer weight of it.  It is very heavy.  I found comfort though, in the fact that I could hang it on the handle of my pram and when I did go shopping for the day, my purchases got stuffed in there too.  So, it worked for me only because I didn't have to carry it far.  Often, I would put my whole handbag into it and zip it up.  I figured that if anyone wanted to make off with my valuables, they'd run out of steam pretty quick cos they'd have to take the whole nappy bag!  he he he :o)

There are some groovy extras that come with the bags too - a bottle bag - which is lined to keep them cool/warm, a plastic covered matching change mat, and a handy double sided storage satchel for those quick dashes to the shops.  I actually found the components got more of a workout in a general sense than the bag itself - except for the insulated bottle bag... I've never used bottles at all.  I guess it will come in handy for a little lunch pack or something later on, when he's doing solo play dates or being babysat.


If you're an Aussie, you'll be looking at $189.95 for the reversible baby bag.  The quality of the fabric is exceptional, and they even have a zip off hard base (good for hiding things in!) which will protect your bag's bottom from wet stuff.  I've really enjoyed this bag, and as for the size of it, it's come in really handy for me, especially when one of my mummy friends forgot something.  Chances are, it's in my bag.

Happy shopping!!

A. xo