Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Husband Project: Week One

Tomorrow is day one of The Husband Project. While I've already been incorporating some of the projects into our lives, tomorrow will be the first day that I actually have a plan for what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. Of course, I picked one of the most stressful times of the year for us - planting wheat and harvesting corn and soybeans. For those of you not living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, this is when the stress levels run high. It's a time of early mornings, late nights, and short tempers. There's only a certain amount of time to get these things done and you're at the mercy of mother nature. Everything's great when she cooperates, but that doesn't happen very often.

Now that I think about it, this is probably the perfect time to start The Husband Project. Most years I get extremely frustrated with my husband and I start feeling as though I'm in competition with the farm. Because of The Husband Project, I am able to remind myself that my husband isn't putting the business first, he is doing his best to provide for and take care of his family.

These are the projects for Week One:
Project 1 - 30 Minutes is All It Takes: Create some free time when he gets home.
Project 2 - Back in the Day: Do something he enjoyed before you got married.
Project 3 - You da' Man: Spreading great gossip about your guy.
Project 4 - Heart vs. Stomach: A treat just for him.
Project 5 - E-flirt.com: Text or email some sweet nothings.
Project 6 - A Little Hands-on Attention: Meeting your husband's physical (touch) needs.
Project 7 - Trophy Wife: Looking good for your man.


I be back tomorrow to post the very first project - 30 Minutes Is All It Takes.

Are  you planning on starting The Husband Project? Already started? Following along with me? I'd love to know.

Friday, September 17, 2010

*CLOSED* Charlie Banana Review & Giveaway

I first heard about Charlie Banana diapers when they were sponsoring diaper giveaways through Operation Smile on Facebook. Of course, I perk right up when I hear the words diaper and giveaway in the same sentence. Plus, with a name like Charlie Banana, how could these diapers be anything but adorable? 

btw - Charlie Banana donates 1% of sales to Operation Smile. How awesome is that?

Turns out, my instincts were right - they do make super cute diapers. Not only do their diapers come in traditional colors like Baby Blue, Sage, Bubblegum, and others, they also come in prints for boys and girls and vibrant, bold colors like Shanghai Green, Turquoise, and Hot Pink. Charlie Banana diapers are made to fit all the way from birth through the toddler years with one size and sized diapers ranging from xsmall to large. 

These diapers are actually a 2-in-1 system. Just like traditional pocket cloth diapers, you can use the reuseable microfiber insert, but you also have the choice of using disposable inserts. Just lay the disposable insert right on the fleece and tuck it under the flap. This is a wonderful choice for parents that are still a little 'iffy' about cloth diapers, or for caregivers, vacations, etc. 

Besides their 2-in-1 diapers, Charlie Banana offers a wide range of other eco-friendly products including:
Wipes
Tote Bags
Laundry Bags
Change Pads
Mattress Pads
Training Pants
Underwear
Swim Diapers
Baby Leg Warmers
Reusable Feminine Pads
Reusable Nursing Pads
 
I was able to try out some of these products and I was not disappointed! 

The Charlie Banana Tote Bag (wet bag) and wipes were the first two products I used. The wet bag is simple, but the black color and Charlie Banana logo give it a sophisticated feel. I was able to fit 4 large and medium diapers and 4 or more wipes in the bag with a little room to spare. What I love about it is that it can be used long after your little one is done with cloth diapers because it's also great for holding swimsuits, gym clothes, shoes, and more. 
 
The Double Sided wipes are made of organic cotton on one side and fleece on the other. They get the job done, but are soft and gentle. I even stole a couple from my son's stash to use when I wash my face.



The diapers, of course, were my absolute favorite products. 

The outside of the diapers are made of PUL and come in a wide range of colors, along with a few prints. The fleece liner is so soft and does a wonderful job of wicking the moisture away from little man's skin. 

Both one size and sized diapers come with two microfiber inserts


and can also be used with the disposable inserts.

While I'm not normally a fan of disposable inserts, I did like these. They are large enough that they have a good coverage area and they also don't have those sticky tabs on the back that stick to everything.
The sized diapers range in sizes from xsmall to large and my little man uses both the large and medium sizes. The medium size fits him almost perfectly, but the large gives us that extra rise. What made me fall in love with the Charlie Banana diapers is that the waists of their diapers adjusts a little bit smaller than other diapers. At 10 months old, my little man was more like a chunky monkey and he was able to wear large sized diapers. Then he started crawling...and walking...and running! It didn't take long for him to morph from a chunky, long baby to a skinny, tall toddler. And then the large sized diapers didn't fit him around the waist, but our medium sized diapers didn't have a high enough rise. With the Charlie Banana diapers, I'm able to make the waist small enough on the large diapers to fit little man perfectly. Plus the triangular layout of the snaps help keep the front of the diaper from drooping.





I was amazed at the range of the one size diaper. Obviously, I only used the diaper on my son, but I think this diaper would easily work on a 7 lb baby. I did some quick measurements on the smallest and largest settings of the Charlie Banana One Size Diaper and here's what I found:
Rise - 10" to 19"
Waist - 12" to 25.5"
Thigh - 3" to 12"


Smallest Setting

Largest Setting

I gotta say, I was pretty impressed by those measurements. I also like the fact that this diaper was slightly less confusing for my husband than other one size diapers we have. Instead of adjusting the size by using snaps, Charlie Banana diapers are adjusted by using the elastic and a button. My son has had his diapers put on him in some pretty interesting ways when hubby's been faced with the task of using a one-size with a bunch of snaps in the front. Because of the way the Charlie Banana one size diaper is adjusted, it's also easier to make more subtle adjustments since it has seven different settings.


During the day, we used the diaper with the larger insert and I was very pleased by the trim fit of Charlie Banana diapers. Autumn is already in the air here, so it's great to have diapers that fit so nicely under pants.

For nighttime use, I added the extra insert just because my son can be a super soaker. He usually sleeps anywhere from 8-10 hours at night and we have not had any problems using the Charlie Banana diapers at bedtime. The fleece liner and microfiber inserts are the perfect combination to wick the moisture away from my son's skin, but still keep the diaper from leaking.

Want to buy your own Charlie Banana products? 

Visit Charlie Banana for a list of retailers. You can also purchase Charlie Banana diapers at Amazon and Babies R Us for around $18 each or $99 for six.
Want to win a Charlie Banana OS 2-in-1 Diapering System with reuseable and disposable inserts?

Here's how:
Mandatory Entry:
Go to Charlie Banana and let me know your favorite Charlie Banana diaper color.


Extra Entries (Leave separate comments for each):
Like Charlie Banana on Facebook.

Follow Charlie Banana on Twitter.

Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect.


The contest ends Friday, September 24th, at 4pm CST.


Good Luck!




*CLOSED* CJ's BUTTer Review & Giveaway


One of the more frustrating aspects of cloth diapering can be finding products that work for you and are also cloth friendly. Detergents, powders, creams, solutions...anything that you use on the diaper area needs to be safe, not only for your child, but also for your diapers. Sometimes, it takes a little trial and error. But, sometimes, you find the perfect product!

That's what I've found with CJ's BUTTer. Honestly, it was the name that drew me in at first. But, once I did a little research, I found out that CJ's BUTTer is a truly multipurpose, cloth friendly product made by a WAHM. You can use it for rashes, dry skin, hand cream, and more. You can even use it as a leave-in conditioner! CJ's products come in so many wonderful scents, that there is something for everyone!


We use the original CJ's BUTTer in a jar, but I was also able to review CJ's Stick o'BUTTer. I love both products. I've even staked claim on my own jar of CJ's BUTTer in the Mango, Sugar & Mint scent. I constantly use it on my hands, elbows, and feet. It leaves you feeling moisturized, but without the greasy feeling that other diaper creams can have.

What's so wonderful about CJ's Stick o'BUTTer is that it's so darn convenient. It comes in a tube with a twist up bottom so all you really need to do is twist and apply. No more mess and no more fumbling to wipe your hands while your naked toddler's trying to crawl away! This is my go to product whenever we're out of the house. So quick and easy. It's also perfect to control waste and works great for caregivers.

I've also tried CJ's All Natural Lip Balm and Creamy Body Lotion. Both are just as fabulous as the BUTTer. You know how some lip balms seem to dry out your lips? I swear it's like a conspiracy to get you to buy more since you're constantly reapplying it. Not the case with CJ's! It moisturizes my lips without leaving a greasy residue and it lasts forever! I usually only need to reapply 2-3 times a day. The Creamy Body Lotion is fantastic as an all-over body lotion. It makes my skin soft and smooth and the scent is just perfect. It doesn't smell diluted, but it's not overpowering either.  

Some other great products include:
Carcass Cleaner - a body wash, face wash, AND wipe solution in one bottle
Mediterranean Coarse Sea Salts
Premium Buttermilk Milk Bath
Soothing Olive Oil Bar Soap
All Natural! Wool Wash with Lanolin
All-purpose Cleaner
and Spritz o'BUTTer - a liquid version of CJ's BUTTer in a spray bottle. Just like the Stick o'BUTTer, this is great for quick and easy applications. It also works great as a body spray or a leave in conditioner.



Where to buy:
CJ's Sewing Room and some cloth diaper and natural parenting stores.

For a chance to win a bottle of CJ's Spritz o'BUTTer in Love Spell scent:
Mandatory (One comment, two tasks)
Like CJ's Sewing Room on Facebook

Visit CJ's Sewing Room and let me know what product is already your favorite or what product you'd like to try.


Extra Entry: (Leave separate comment)
Follow us through Google Friend Connect

Giveaway ends Friday, September 24th, at 9am CST.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

*CLOSED* Kickin Creations Review & Giveaway

After a hectic day of cleaning, cooking, chasing after little man, more cleaning, extracting cracker bits from toys, working, spraying poopy diapers, cleaning various foods off the walls, and Lord knows what else, my favorite way to unwind is to take a nice, long, hot bath, even though they are few and far between. (Just an FYI - I do shower everyday. :) I wouldn't want to traumatize our poor mailman!) 

My bathroom becomes a mini spa with aromatic candles, mud masks, luxurious body washes, and whatever else I feel like that day. One of my newest favorite indulgences is sugar scrubs. They smell divine and are perfect for those summertime, flip flop feet. Naturally, I was intrigued when I heard about the Ultimate Scrub from Kickin' Creations and ecstatic when Mandy, owner of Kickin' Creations, contacted me about a review.



This scrub really is the ultimate! It's a blend of chocolate, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and coffee scents. Seriously?! My favorite things all combined into one? This was magical!!

I was hooked as soon as I opened up the jar. The aroma just blew me away - it was the perfect blend! As soon as hubby came home that night, I was getting in the bath! Most sugar scrubs I've tried are great at exfoliating, but don't do much for moisturizing. Not the case with the Kickin' Creations sugar scrub. It not only smooths your rough skin, but moisturizes too, so you come out of the bath with soft, glowing skin! I had considered posting before and after pictures of my feet. But, I'd like you to continue reading my blog. Really - I have scary feet!



Kickin Creations also creates this luxurious scrub in Chocolate and Lavender scents, and that's not all she makes.  You can also buy CD safe laundry detergent, deodorizing powder, blankets, burp cloths, and more! You can find her on Facebook and also in the Cuties with Cloth Booties congo on Hyena Cart.

Now for the fun part - Kickin Creations is offering one of you the chance to win your very own Ultimate Sugar Scrub!

To enter:
Fan Kickin Creations on Facebook
Comment back on this post and let me know you became a fan.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, Sept 22nd, at 11am CST.

Monday, September 13, 2010

*CLOSED* IttyBittyBums Giveaway from Country Drawers

The winner is...
Comment #66 - Life of the Leatherberry's



I suppose you could call this a bit of self promotion or you could call it another fantastic giveaway! A few of you know that I have a little cloth diaper and natural parenting store called Country Drawers. We just recently opened as a way for me to stay home and still make a little money - gotta pay for that fluff addiction somehow!! We carry a small selection of clothes, toys, accessories, and cloth diapers, including IttyBittyBums AI2 cloth diapers.



IttyBittyBums Diapers are made with a PUL outer cover and a cotton knit or micro fleece lining to make it extra soft. There is a laundry tab for ease of washing. Inserts are made from a wonderfully soft micro-fleece on the outside and 6 absorbent layers on the inside . Very absorbent- the fleece wicks moisture away from baby's skin-it is also super soft against baby's skin and resists stains. Each diaper comes with one insert.



Solid colored diapers are $10 each, print diapers are $13 each and minky diapers are only $15 each. Sizes are Newborn (6-12 pounds), Medium (15-23 pounds) and Large (20- 35 pounds).

How to enter:
Mandatory: Let me know if you'd like a boy or girl colored diaper and what size by commenting on this post.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each extra entry):
Like Country Drawers on Facebook
Like IttyBittyBums on Facebook


Giveaway ends Monday, September 20th, at 9am.




Friday, September 10, 2010

*CLOSED* The Husband Project Giveaway

Winner is...
Comment #24 - Becca Payne!!

Becca - email me at iheartfluff@hotmail.com with your mailing address. Congrats!!

If you follow my blog, you'd know that I've decided to start The Husband Project. You can read my first thoughts about this book here. I haven't officially started the project yet, but I've been implementing a few of the projects here and there and I can already see the difference! My hubby's been more helpful than he's been in a while and he's even taking me out to dinner tomorrow night - not something that happens very often with our busy lives.

I'm planning on starting The Husband Project on September 19th and I sure hope a few of you will join me. You can purchase The Husband Project and any other of Kathi Lipp's books at Kathi's Store or on Amazon.

I will also be giving one of our followers their very own copy of The Husband Project!

To enter:
(Leave a comment for each entry)
Mandatory - Follow our blog.
Extra Entry - Become a fan of I Heart Fluff on Facebook. Please let me know your Facebook ID (First Name, Last Initial)

Giveaway ends Monday, September 13th, at 11am CST and the winner will be announed later that day.

*Closed* Pixie Fluff Nursing Cover Giveaway

The winner is...

Comment #15 - Jessica

Jessica said...
im a fan and would love to win a boy cover!!!



Because we have such wonderful fans over at I Heart Fluff that love to share the fluff love - we are able to give one of you a fabulous nursing cover from Pixie Fluff!!

It's so simple to enter:
Just fan Pixie Fluff on Facebook
Comment on this blog post to let me know you're a fan and tell me whether you'd like a boy or girl colored nursing cover.

See - super easy! Just remember, only one comment per person and the winner will have 48 hours to contact me at iheartfluff@hotmail.com.

This giveaway ends tomorrow, 9/11, at 11am CST.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Products For Mom

Looking for some products just for you? Maybe some luxurious lotions or super soft mama cloth? Here are a few stores that offer products just for moms. Be sure to visit their Facebook pages because some of these stores are having fantastic giveaways!!

Lemurkins and Co Creations

MotherMoon Pads

The Lilypond Family Shoppe

Scarborough Lane

Crow Mountain Crafts

Melissa's All Natural Baby Products




Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A few WAHM & Cloth Diaper stores to Check Out

WAHM Wednesday: Tasha from KAEL & KAED



Eliminating tacky baby accessories one baby at a time. Ha! That tagline alone makes me want to buy from KAEL&KAED trendy handmade (baby) things! You can get some super cute toy/sophie/sippy straps, paci/soother clips, and blanket clips to help keep those baby items within reach and not thrown a few yards out of the stroller! They've also recently developed an organic line of products made with 100% Organic fabric and 100% Organic thread.



You can find KAEL&KAED on Facebook or at their Etsy store.

Tasha, owner and brilliant mastermind behind KAEL&KAED was nice enough to sit down and answer a few questions for us...

Tell us about your business:

KAEL&KAED started June of this year. I've always been an ambitious crafty person...so I decided to embark on a new journey..sewing. I had never really sewn before, but I thought I would give it a try. I was in love with sewing and, more importantly, fabric instantly!! I tried a couple ideas, then decided to sew something that I could use. I decided I would put an end to playing 52-pick-up with my toddler's sippy cups and toys, especially since we just had our 2nd boy this past May...so sippy/toy/snack leashes it was!! I then decided binki clips and blanket/nursing clips would be a good match! Watch out for some new products coming soon...I've got some great ideas in the works :) !! http://www.kaelkaed.etsy.com/

What makes your business fabulous?
The ability to customize your sippy leash, binki clip or blanket/nursing clips with the fabric of your choice as well as the matching snap color!! And, well, all of the awesome fabric choices (I like to think I have good taste :))!!



Why did you become a WAHM?
I just wanted to find a hobby that could bring in a lil extra dough...and have fun doing it...know what I mean? Being creative is so much fun...my boys motivate me to think of new ideas everyday!!

How do you find the time?
Well, as most of you know, "me time" is really hard to come by for anyone let alone moms. I love working on KAEL& KAED every second I can find, which some days is some, but most of the time not so much. As much as I love sewing and creating, being a mom comes first!!

Any tips for other WAHMs?
Love what you create and be as creative as you can. From your ideas to your final packaging, the love and dedication you put into your products will definitely show!

Out of all the products you make, which one is your favorite?
I would have to say the sippy/toy leashes are my all-time fav!!! They definitely come in handy, especially when out in the stroller! They've been our best seller so far! Who doesn't want to stop playing fetch with their babies????



Any specials or giveaways we should know about?
We have 2 reviews/giveaways going on right now...
http://goshopmomma.blogspot.com/2010/09/kael-kaed-custom-sophietoysippysnack.html until september 20, 2010
&
http://katydibs.blogspot.com/2010/09/kael-trendy-handmade-baby-things.html until september 13, 2010

Big thanks to Tasha for being our featured WAHM this Wednesday. Tasha, whenever you get a chance, feel free to grab out WAHM Wednesday button for your blog or website!


Cloth Chronicles

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The Husband Project: Getting Started

This weekend, I'm going to start preparing myself for The Husband Project.
"Prepare for what? Don't you just follow the book??"
Yep, and the first 40 pages are all about preparing yourself. Have you ever gone into a project completely unprepared? I sure have and when I do, I usually fall flat on my you-know-what.

The first chapter of The Husband Project is titled "Laying a Foundation: Preparing for The Husband Project". Kathi does a great job of explaining The Husband Project - what it is and why it works. Some of the key points to remember are:
  • It usually takes 21 days to really develop a habit so The Husband Project is 21 days long. Of course, sometimes, you may be able to do more than one project a day. Other times, it may take a few days to complete one project. The important thing is not to rush the projects or feel like a failure if you go off course. Just start up right where you left off.
  • Keep the project a secret. This is one of those 'good' secrets that you should keep from your husband. This is not something that you should feel forced to do and if you tell your husband, you may feel as if you HAVE to do this project or that you are being graded on every project. Plus, doesn't it feel great to do something nice for someone when they have have no idea you were planning it?
  • Get your friends involved. Just because you can't tell your husband about the project, doesn't mean you can't tell your friends. Find a few friends to join you in The Husband Project. This will make it much more fun, plus provide some accountability for all of you.
  • It won't always be smooth sailing. You may have an argument one day, or he may be out of town for a couple days. Maybe you are just completely worn out from working all day, taking care of the kids, and cleaning. Something will always come up. Just remember that you can't control anyone else's reactions, but you can control your own. If you do miss a project, don't beat yourself up. Just start again the next day.
  • Don't get stuck in the "It's Not Fair" rut. Oh boy, am I guilty of this one! I have my own business and work from home so I sometimes feel like I never really get that 'break' away from the house, chores, and kids like my husband does when he goes to work. He also has his own business and, just like most small business owners, works A LOT and usually goes to work very early and gets home pretty late. I was pretty much making him play catch up when he'd get home. I'd hand him our son and head to the office to try to get some of my own work done. I would think, "I do so much around here and all I ask him to do is take out the trash. He can't even do that!" When in reality, he does so much more than I give him credit for. Plus, one of our agreements when we were discussing whether or not I should stay at home was that I would take over many of the household responsiblities.
I'm going to read through the book again this weekend and figure out my plan of action.

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Husband Project



To be totally honest, when I first heard of "The Husband Project", I thought it was a total crock. C'mon, don't I already do enough around here without having to change myself just to boost my hubby's ego? In my mind, this book was a manual on how to put women back in the 1950s.

Boy, was I wrong. I sat down this afternoon and read the entire book - in between diaper changes, kissing boo boos, and trying to keep dangerous objects out of my son's reach. I can already see how following the projects will not only benefit my husband, but myself as well. It also got me thinking that maybe...just maybe...I'm not the perfect wife. :) Why should I expect my husband to lavish me with compliments while I just remind him to take out the trash?

I've realized that I really don't take the time to let my husband know how much I appreciate everything he does for our family. He's made sacrifices too and he works extremely hard for all of us.

Here's a little excerpt from the first page of The Husband Project:

Why The Husband Project?


“Kathi, a couple of us need to quit the project.”
I couldn’t believe what Angela was saying. Quit the Husband Project? We’d just started that weekend.
“Ang, are you kidding me? Why do you want to quit already?” There was no way things could be going downhill so quickly.
“I was talking to some of the other girls, and because we’re being so nice, our husbands are becoming suspicious. They think we’re all having affairs!”
Apparently, there’s a bigger need for the Husband Project than even I could have expected.



Kathi Lipp adds plenty of wit and humor and gives advice on how to proceed with the projects without making you feel as if you've failed as a wife. She understands because she's actually been there.
 
I'll be starting The Husband Project very soon! If you'd like to join me, you can purchase The Husband Project at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Project-Loving-Man-Purpose/dp/0736925228/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230340444&sr=8-1 and visit Kathi Lipp's webiste here: http://www.kathilipp.com/
 

Fluffy Friday Link Up

Yay! Time for two of my favorite things - Fridays and Freebies!! Just grab the Fluffy Friday Link Up button for your blog and then link up your giveaway!

Cloth Chronicles