CutieDoodie Diapers Review! ( Sponsored Review)

Finally, what you have all been waiting for!

The CutieDoodie Diapers cloth diaper review! 

CutieDoodie Diapers is the hot new diaper brand on the market! They are CUSTOM made and WELL made.

Katie offered to send me one to try out and I couldn't resist. She picked a surprise color for me ( as I am the most indecisive person on the planet). Seriously though the colors were all beautiful and I couldn't decide.

The diaper I received is a custom newborn diaper. I estimate that it would fit a 5 or 6 lb baby up to about 22 lbs. or so. My daughter Baby A tried it on at 28 lbs. and was on the last leg snap, but it still fit! 

the diaper fit Baby A well in the waist!

Baby A is 2 1/2 years old. She weights almost 28 lbs. She is thick thighed with a skinny waist. Her snap placement on a OS diaper is usually on the next to smallest snap setting, but the legs are usually on the next to biggest. She is an extremely heavy wetter....extremely, and she poops 1-2 times a day.

We tried the diaper out for pee, but were not able to catch a number 2 during any of the time frames that she wore the diaper.

All that being said. When Baby B arrives, we will be trying this diaper again for another more accurate review on a newborn. This review however can tell you how the diaper functions when stressed to the max both size and wetness wise.

no bulk!!

A couple of things I wanted to note:

The snaps work extremely well and are placed evenly on the diaper. There is a row for hip snaps, and a row of waist snaps as well. For the leg settings there are 2 rows of snaps, one for each leg.

The diaper is made of high quality materials. and the stitching is even and spot on. No stray threads or mistakes on this diaper!

The insert is nice as well, I like the shape of the insert as it fills the whole pocket as opposed to leaving any space.

showing how it fits Baby A in the leg region.

We had ZERO leaks with this diaper, she wets heavy day or night and there were no leaks when she wore the diaper, even with it being a little tight due to her size vs. the size of the diaper. I expected a compression leak of some kind, but no leaks at all.

Due to her being over the size limit for the diaper I did not want to leave it on overnight, so I will be reviewing overnight wear with Baby B in September/October  time.

She had zero rashes or skin irritations from the diaper!

This is a fantastic diaper! Zero complaints! I highly recommend. The diaper held up to washing with extremely minimal pilling on the insert!

diaper and insert

****

I also want to include in this review, a question and answer session I had with Katie, the owner of CutieDoodie Diapers:

1. What is the inner fabric of the diaper cover made out of ?

K: The inner fabric is suedecloth. I'm experimenting with microfleece and athletic wicking too. So far suedecloth is my fav.

 2. What fabric is the outer part of the diaper cover made of? 

K: The outer is PUL

3. What fabric is the insert made out of?How many layers sewn is the insert? 

K:   The insert is microfiber. It's 3 layers thick. Actually I think I am going to discontinue the inserts for now until I get a serger. I want my products to look professional and without a serger I feel they don't have that professional finish yet.

(FYI: I thought they looked great! Let's buy some more diapers and help her get that serger so she can bring those inserts back!)

4. What is your favorite part about making cloth diapers?

K: I love seeing the finished product. The snaps are the most time consuming, but seeing a functional diaper at the end is really exciting for me!

 5. What types of diapers/diapering products do you plan on selling in your shop? Now and in future? 

K: Eventually I like to offer newborn along with regular 

one size diapers. I'd also like to make burp cloths, wetbags, nursing covers, and nursing pads. Right now it's just newborn and regular size diapers.

6. What are the prices of your diapers? 

K: The regular diapers are $15 and tbd on the newborns!:)

7. What made you decide to start your own diaper business?

K: I'm a single mom and can't find work at the moment. Instead of sitting around I wanted to do something using my degree in apparel design. The more I researched cloth diapering, the more I wanted to make and use them myself. I knew I could create a quality product to share, so I created my patterns! 

Besides, being my own boss would be amazing!!

*****

Well, what do you all think?

Her diapers get a thumbs up in my book! Having gotten to chat with her, this woman has a wonderful personality and great attention to detail! Being a mom herself, she knows that diaper quality is important!

I personally think that CutieDoodie Diapers is one of the best diapers I have tried so far. 

"Mommy, I'm a super model"

My favorite one size pocket that I always reach for in my stash is a Kawartha, the styling on this one is similar in the way of fit! So if you like Kawartha pockets, you have GOT to try these!! I like it way better than my Sunbaby pockets!

Not name dropping there, but letting you know how it stacks up so some cloth favorites out there!

Please check out her ETSY shop and let your comments/questions below!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CutieDoodieDiapers

View yesterday's video preview here.

Check back in September/October 2014 for a review on a NEWBORN!

*I received no monetary compensation for this review, only a diaper for the review. In addition, all opinions are and always will be my own. Interview posted with permission.*

Weekly Recap: Upcoming Reviews, Nature Hikes, and More!

I am so happy to share with you that we had AMAZING summer weather this weekend DESPITE the forecast for 7 straight days of thunderstorms. It was sunny, 90, and yes a little humid, but simply gorgeous! 

We took Baby A to the park for some grounding....she loved running barefoot through the grass. We also took a nature hike through the woods ( with shoes on of course!) and just simply enjoyed nature!

In addition to that, I went to the allergist yesterday and learned that I do not have as many allergies as I used to! In fact, I barely have any. I only have one severe one, DUST MITES This is why I had such a bad allergy attack a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully though I am getting allergy shots weekly and it should help a ton! I also learned that I don't really have asthma, that I actually just have asthma like attacks from severe dust mite reactions. Whew! What a relief. I love good news. Being healthy and getting into nature has really impacted my health in amazing ways! I encourage everyone to get into nature and eat clean....your body will love you for it!

Even more exciting news!! I have 2 reviews lined up for you guys!! One is a review of The Better Chips newest flavor, I cannot wait to get it in the mail so I can share it with you all!
And  secondly, I just received Naturally Fresh Deodorant products in the mail for review! They included a Moisture Stic which I also cannot wait to try and share with you! The best part about their deodorant is it is ALUMINUM FREE! I will be testing it through workouts, nature hikes, and this next weeks hot weather! Please keep reading to see a review of this product! 

Without further ado......

Here is this weeks weekly recap:

• Last weeks weekly recap
• (TT): Some days you are just thankful for life...

Last week was short on posting but I am bringing a lot of content to you all. It takes a while to take all the pictures and write up the posts, but I hope that you will enjoy what is to come. Please keep reading, and as always, I love your comments! 

How was your weekend?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

New Review Coming Soon!

I just received the Hoo- Rag in the mail for review! 

I am excited to bring to you next week a review on the Hoo-Rag!

In the meantime, check out their website.

http://www.hoorag.com/

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

The Better Chip {Sponsored Review}

If you are looking for a healthy alternative to potato chips, then I have found the perfect snack!

 It's great for all kinds of families for a couple of reasons!

1. They are healthier than regular chips!

2. They are tasty too!

Fresh Corn & Sea Salt, Jalapeno & Sea Salt, Red Pepper & Salsa Fresca, Sweet Onion & Cheddar

The Better Chip sent me 4 flavors to try! 

Since I cannot eat dairy, Hubby reviewed the Sweet Onion & White Cheddar flavor.

All the chips & the t-shirt & bag they sent me!

Normally in our household we are snacking on almonds, carrots, raisins....those sort of things. But occasionally we do like to change up our snacks.

These chips fit right in with our healthy lifestyle!

Here is some more info & our reviews of each flavor:

1. Fresh Corn & Sea Salt: 

(From their website)

"Made with 40% fresh corn so the flavor is inside

All Natural

Gluten Free

Non-GMO "

Ingredients: CORN MASA FLOUR, WHOLE CORN, SUNFLOWER AND/OR CORN OIL, SEA SALT.

Our Thoughts:

Hubby and I loved these chips! They have a super fresh and crisp flavor. A little salty too. They have a great crunch, and are wonderful for dipping in salsa or hummus! This is a chip that could go with pretty much anything! We definitely are fans of this flavor.

2. Jalapeno & Sea Salt:

(From their website)

"Made with 40% fresh jalapeno so the flavor is inside

All Natural

Gluten Free

Non-GMO "

Ingredients: CORN MASA FLOUR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR CORN OIL, JALAPENO PEPPERS, ONIONS, SEA SALT.

Our Thoughts: 

We thought that this chip also had an amazing crunch. Also great for dipping! Has a spicy kick to it that builds with each chip that you eat, although if you don't normally eat spicy, it is a good time to try it! We love spicy and this was a great chip for us! 

3. Red Pepper & Salsa Fresca:

(From their website)

"Made with 40% fresh red pepper so the flavor is inside

All Natural

Gluten Free

Non-GMO "

Ingredients: CORN MASA FLOUR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR CORN OIL, RED BELL PEPPERS, ONIONS, SEASONING ( TOMATO POWDER, SALT, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, SUGAR, SPICES, GREEN BELL PEPPER POWDER, CHILI PEPPER, YEAST EXTRACT, DEHYDRATED PARSLEY, CHIPOTLE PEPPER POWDER, CITRIC ACID, OIL OF LIME, SPICE (EXTRACTIVE).

Our Thoughts: 

This is a great chip to eat by itself. It has a flavor that really leaves a great impression and makes you want to buy them again. These are Hubby's and my absolute favorite! If you can only try one chip, try the Red Pepper flavor! It is a chip that would also be great with salsa! It's not spicy, but it has a wonderful pop of flavor! 

4. Sweet Onion & White Cheddar:

(From their website)

"Made with 40% fresh onion so the flavor is inside

All Natural

Gluten Free

Non-GMO "

Ingredients: CORN MASA FLOUR, ONIONS, SUNFLOWER AND/OR CORN OIL, SEASONING (WHEY, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS WITH PASTEURIZED MILK, CULTURES, ENZYMES), SUGAR, CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURES, ENZYMES), AUTOLYZED YEAST, CREAM, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, GARLIC POWDER, NONFAT MILK, TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN.

CONTAINS: MILK

Hubby's Thoughts:

It has a definite cheese flavor. If you like onions and cheddar this is definitely for you. Not necessarily a dipping chip though, seems best eaten on its own. The flavor is good & strong, but not overpowering. Delicious.

All of the flavors of chips really taste like what they look like on the package. You see the picture and the name, you taste them... and they taste like what you expect! All the flavor for only 130 calories! That's a good thing! 

We really enjoyed taste testing the chips and want to say THANK YOU to The Better Chip for letting us try them! 

The Better Chip is currently sold in 13 US states, so be sure to look for them next time you are at the store! 

Try The Better Chip!!

Check out their website for more information! 

thebetterchip.com

*The ingredients listed were off of the back of the package, please check out thebetterchip.com for more nutritional information.

**I recieved no monetary compensation for this post, all opinions are true and my own, I recieved 2 small bags of each flavor, a t-shirt, and a carry bag for review. Thank you The Better Chip!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Disclaimer here.

Keeping the Nursery Smelling Fresh!

Using cloth diapers doesn't have to stink.

One dilemma we faced when planning for Baby A was what diaper pail to use.


Since using cloth diapers, we knew a simple Diaper Genie wouldn't do the trick for us.

After looking through some baby stores we ran across the perfect diaper pail!!

The Diaper Dekor Plus!

Instead of the bag refills for the diaper pail, we use a reusable wet bag that we toss in the wash with the diapers.

My favorite features of the pail are the locking top & the easy access front panel for removing the bag of soiled diapers!
I love the Diaper Dekor Plus because it truly does keep the odors at bay & Baby A's nursery stays smelling fresh!

*I was not compensated for this review. Review is of a product I already own.*
❤ 


Lolli 

RAW REVOLUTION (Review)

Hubby and I recently went to Vitamin Shoppe to pick up baby vitamin drops & coconut oil. 

While we were there we picked up some Raw Revolution Organic Live Food Bars. 

Let me just say: These ROCK!

The flavor we bought was Chocolate Cashew.

Here's some facts from the packaging (flavor I ate) & website:

Raw Kosher Pareve

91. 7%  raw

Vegan

Free of preservatives

Gluten free

Dairy free

Soy free 

Wheat free

Free of peanuts 

Free of animal products

Organic

Talk about a healthy snack! Not to mention the chocolate cashew flavor tastes like chocolate!

Here are the ingredients for the Chocolate Cashew Flavor from their website:

" INGREDIENTS: CASHEW, DATES, AGAVE NECTAR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, ALMONDS, SPROUTED FLAX SEED"

Some of their other flavors are:

Spirulina & Cashew

Chocolate & Coconut

Coconut & Agave Nectar

Apple Cinnamon

Lemon Dew

& more!

Check out their website: 

http://rawrev.com/

♥

Lolli

* I am not associated with Vitamin Shoppe or Raw Revolution in any way. I was in no way compensated for this review. All statements are true at the time this post was written. All opinions are truly my own. Always verify ingredients before consuming a product, especially with food allergies. The photo is not my own, it is linked from the rawrev.com website.*

PureFit Bars (Review)

My mom introduced me to PureFit Bars the other day.
The two kinds she gave me are Berry Almond Crunch & Chocolate Brownie.

What I Love About These Bars (according to package):
Gluten free
Dairy free
18grams of protein
Low Glycemic
Delicious!!

I have always been a protein shake person, but it's nice to have bars that you can grab and take with you in the car or stash in your purse!
These are it!! They have great flavor and are soft & chewy!

Thumbs up for PureFit Bars!

The great flavor & nutrition packed in these bars keeps me reaching for them first when I want a snack.

Thanks Mom for introducing me to my new favorite protein snack!

Check out their website: http://www.purefit.com/
❤


 Lolli 

• I was not compensated for this review. This review is on a product I already own. All opinions are true & my own.•

Looking for products to review!

Want me to review your cloth diaper brand?

Contact me through the PR friendly tab!

Have another product you would like me to review?

I'd love to hear about it!

♥

Lolli

Cloth Diapers We Use : Sprout Change

I had never seen a modern cloth diaper until I won a Sprout Change diaper on a website.

I never in my life had thought I would use cloth diapers on my baby. I didn't know anyone who used cloth diapers, and the idea of poop grossed me out.

Then I got pregnant.

 While in my first trimester I ran across several mom blogs. There were a lot of posts on cloth diapers! I became curious, and started reading more. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I research EVERY major decision I make in my life.

I set out on a quest to learn all I could about cloth diapers.

I read about so many brands my head was spinning. There weren't very many cloth diapers that seemed to suit me AND my hubby.

Then I read about Sprout Change.

I was sold on cloth diapers.

Baby Makin(g) Machine's blog is what really sold me on Sprout Change though! 

I love that cloth diapering is both great for the environment & my baby girl's bottom!

Even better, it's not hard on the wallet either!

We bought 8 shells and 24 Super Saver Organic Inserts. We have used these diapers since Day 1 with Baby A! All the nurses in the hospital thought she was super cute in cloth. I am so happy we bought these! 

What I love about Sprout Change:

* Snap Closure

* Internal Sizing

* Not overly bulky

*Reversible Cover

*Front or Side Snap options

* Fits from 5 to 40 lbs!

Sprout Change has contained even the messiest of newborn poop explosions!
 Baby A is also a heavy wetter, and these diapers contain all her messy pees too! 

We have only had a couple times where she peed out in the beginning. This was because I hard time figuring out which button to size to. She has chunky ( adorably so!) thighs that were between a 4 and 5 measurement, so I had made it too loose. But when I got the size right she was dry. 

We also have to double stuff her at night because she is an EXTREMELY heavy wetter. 

I think Sprout Change is perfect for us! 

I recommend it to all my friends who are interested in trying cloth!

photo borrowed from willowpads.com

Learn more about Sprout Change:

http://www.willowpads.com/t/the-willow-store/sprout-change

❤

Lolli

*These are all personal opinions of the blogger. I was in no way compensated for this review.*

_________________________________________________________________

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Cloth Diaper Prep!

Thanks to all the advice on how to prep diapers, and my hubby lugging laundry down to the dryer for me ( thank you hubby! my 9 month waddle wouldn't get me there very well!)....our cloth diapers are prepped & ready for Baby A's arrival!

Here's our newly prepped stash:

Our Bottombumpers OS stash!

 3 diapers, 3 inserts. 

These are some of the softest inserts! 

And I love that the size is a snap down on the inside of the diaper. I like hidden sizing.

gDiapers stash. 

2  small diaper covers, 4 liners, 2 pail liners, 12 small microfleece/hemp inserts.

These inserts too are very soft. The pail liners will be nice in our Diaper Dekor pail.

Our Sprout Change stash! 

These are the diapers I am most excited about, which is why there are so many in our stash. 9 diaper covers (reversible), 25 hemp inserts. 

These will be the ones she can wear from birth as they go as small as 5 lbs!

I love the internal elastic sizing for both the waist and the legs!

I cannot wait for Baby A to try all her cute little diapers out. 

One surprise we had when prepping the hemp inserts was the amount of "fuzz" in the washer!  The hemp inserts shed like crazy the first wash or so, but then are great! At first I was a little freaked that maybe something was wrong, but it was all a part of the prep process. 

Did you have any surprises or worries when prepping your cloth?

I will be sure to share my opinions on the diapers I have as Baby A tries them out when she is born next month.

There are a few other diaper brands that I would love to try out! I think the Softbums Omni system looks great with the slide 2 size system, and the Envibum diapers are adorable and unique with the waffle style inside and unique sizing!

Can you tell I am a sucker for OS diapers?

We also have 2 Fuzzibunz small wet bags on their way in the mail...for when we are out and about. 

Has anyone used these (or any of the diapers mentioned in this post)? Opinions?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

❤
Lolli

Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix!

I recently made apple cinnamon muffins using Hodgson Mill's Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix! 

I followed the cooking directions on the back, however, I did substitute brown sugar instead of white sugar, and almond milk instead of 2 % milk!

Who would have thought gluten free/ dairy free muffins could be sooooo easy to make & so delicious!

This is a great product! I will be making these again very soon!

They have other gluten free products too, check them out here.

❤

Lolli

*Not intended as advice. Purely opinions of the blogger. Blogger is not associated with the company in any way.*

Have you seen any good movies lately?

I have always been a sucker for comedies. I recently watched "The Dilemma" (click to go to the movie site!)  It has two of my favorite actors in it, which is a total plus! It was hilarious and I would definitely watch it again!

photo from wikipedia

Have you seen any good movies lately?

What's your favorite movie genre?

❤

Lolli

*Not intended as advice. Purely opinions of the blogger. Blogger is not associated with movie or company in any way.*

Katz Gluten Free (Product Review)

Katz Gluten Free makes gluten free products exclusively, which means no cross contamination! Their facility is also nut and dairy free! This is great for those who have multiple food allergies!

They offer a wide variety of products ranging from bread crumbs to cakes, and more!

I recently tried Katz Gluten Free products for the first time! My hubby was sweet enough to eat their food with me. 

The products I tried were the:

Sugared Snack Poppers

Coffee Bundt Cake

Apple Pie

Star Rating: 

***

The snack poppers get a 3 star rating from me because of the lack of flavor, and the toughness. Althought they are good dipped in a glass of almond milk! Not bad, but not amazing either.

*****

The Coffee Bundt Cake gets a 5 star rating from me because the flavor was amazing! The texture and the sweetness were off the charts good! My hubby liked the bundt cake as well!

*****

I gave the Apple Pie a 5 star rating because the flavor was amazing! The pie filling was some of the best I've had, and the crust was delcious. The only issue I had was that the crust was a little softer, but that could be just me. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to pie crust. We both devoured the apple pie, next time I might have to try it with gluten free/ dairy free vanilla ice cream!

All in all, I loved Katz Gluten Free desserts, and I would eat them again!

If you haven't tried Katz gluten free, I think you should! 

❤


Lolli


* This is a product review that has not been paid for. These are my own personal opinions on an item I already own. The company did not provide me with any product or compensation for review. This review is in no way associated with the company or product reviewed.*

Moms Into Fitness Review!

Since I have been pregnant my workout routine has changed. Being someone who likes to go "hard-core" in the gym, I decided I needed help scaling back to more pregnancy appropriate workouts.

This is where Moms Into Fitness enters the picture.

These workouts are GREAT! I feel like a get a great workout, but also know that I am not working out so hard that I would harm the baby.

Lindsay Brin is upbeat & has an energizing attitude throughout the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester workout videos. My absolute favorite workout is the Prenatal Yoga. I always feel more awake and refreshed after this workout!

She also has workouts for AFTER baby !  You can find some of her workouts on Netflix as well!

Check out her websites:

http://www.lindsaybrin.com/

http://www.momsintofitness.com/

So, once you get your Dr.'s permission, check out her workout videos, you'll be glad you did!


♥


Lolli



* This is a product review that I have not been paid for. These are my own personal opinions on an item I already own. This review is in no way associated with the company or product  reviewed. This review is in no way associated with Netflix. All opinions are my own. Ask Dr. permission before working out. Use this product at your own risk.*

Lullabelly Music Belt Review.

At the beginning of my pregnancy I received a Lullabelly Music Belt!

These are awesome I have been using mine throughout my whole pregnancy. 

My little girl loves to kick when I play classical music for her. 

I have the Apple Green Color.  The color pictured here is Chocolate Brown Mint.

It was even on FOX & NBC: http://www.lullabelly.com/news.html

My first reaction when I received it was excitement to try it out! The fabric is super soft and minky, and the belt has a long strip of velcro that has fit me from early pregnancy all the way to my 3rd trimester. It also has a little convenient zipper pocket!

I really like this belt.

It feels good knowing I am doing something good for my baby.
There are a lot of articles online of music helping baby in the womb (this is just one): http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/article/prenatal-learning-with-music

It's nice to know I am helping my baby be more relaxed while in my tummy!

Did you play music for your baby or sing to your baby when you were pregnant?

♥

Lolli

* This is a product review that I have not been paid for. These are my own personal opinions on an item I already own. This review is in no way associated with the company or product reviewed.  This review is in no way associated with Lullabelly. Ask your Dr. before using this product. Use this product at your own risk.*

What Have You Read Lately?

Have you read any good books lately?

Since I am pregnant, a lot of my reading revolves around birth, parenting, and other baby care related topics.

Some of the books I have read are:

What To Expect When You Are Expecting (Heidi Murkoff)

What To Expect The First Year (Heidi Murkoff)

and 

Belly Laughs (Jenny McCarthy)

These were all fantastic reads! I couldn't stop laughing while reading Belly Laughs, and found the information in the What To Expect Series, very valuable.

However, I recently came across a book. that I really wish I had read sooner! This book has changed my views on childbirth ( though I have always believed in Natural Childbirth, this book took my desire for a natural birth to the whole next level!).

The book I am currently reading is:

Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method  (Marie F. Mongan)

I cannot say enough, how amazing of a read this is! I plan to use the Hypnobirthing philosophy during my daughter's birth. Seeing as how this is my first child, and I have no idea what childbirth is like, I think it will be great to approach her birth with a gentle, peaceful mindset, "childbirth without fear".

If you are pregnant, or plan on having another baby, and desire a natural birth, then I really hope you read this book!

...and don't forget to check out the website!

http://www.hypnobirthing.com/

♥

Lolli

* This is a book review that has not been paid for. These are my own personal opinions on an item I already own. This review is in no way associated with the company or product reviewed.*