Parent Panel Review: Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump

I've mentioned the Weespring Parent Panel before, and I'm happy to post my latest goodie to test! 
I received the Philips Avent Single Electric Breast Pump free thanks to Weespring to try out and share my review.  Now, I'm exclusively breastfeeding Loki, who just turned 6 months last week.  He's 20 lbs and 27.5 inches, top of the charts, so my boobymilk is doing something right for him!  At home, I have a Spectra S2 that I use.  In my work bag, I have my old Medela Pump in Style (leftover from my 11 months nursing Odin...but it's still my favorite 🙊).
I always the best output with Medela.  I've had the most practice with it obviously, but I can easily pump 4-5 ounces in less than 10 minutes (that's all the time I get for two of my breaks at work).  Spectra, I can get 3-4 ounces but it takes closer to 15 minutes.  It has so many different settings options that I'm sure I could find the right one, but the truth is...at home, there's no point.  Loki is either on the boob, or he's not hungry.
So now I've been able to try out a third pump, my first single electric, but I typically only pump one side at a time anyway (he only nurses one side at a time).  I had high hopes for this bad boy!  It's small, lightweight, and can even have four AA batteries plugged into it for on-the-go pumping!!  None of those descriptions match my Medela or Spectra! 
So I get everything washed up, then try putting this bad boy together.  Ok, that's the first tricky part.  A lot more pieces than either of my other pumps.  Cushioning pads (it comes with two!), there was a cap (that's actually to put in the bottle when done pumping, but it looked like a different part in the black and white instructions).  Took me longer to get the pump assembled than I normally spend pumping.  Not good for work, where time is extremely limited, so can't take it to work.  Ok, finally put together.  Read the instructions to figure out what setting I should put it on.
It automatically starts in a "letdown" mode, much like the Medela.  Awesome!  That's my preferred mode on Medela because it gulps fast and strong like how my son eats!  Plus, efficiency, let's face it.  I can get more milk out quickly that way!  Other than the "letdown" mode, it has three settings, indicated by flower-looking symbols 🌸 there's light, which is just that...a very light, slow sucking.  Medium...but still slow sucking.  And then hard...but again, still slow.  This was my biggest disappointment with the pump.  I spent over 20 minutes pumping between the letdown mode and the hardest setting, and got the bottle on the left...2.5 ounces.  Showing on the right, a bottle from a few nights ago pumped around 15 minutes with my Spectra, 3.5 ounces. 
Now, I will add that there is one MAJOR feature that won me over.  Because of this pump's setup, I'm actually able to set back and relax while pumping, not have to lean forward and sit up straight so the milk doesn't slosh out.  This makes the extra few minutes at home pumping A LOT more enjoyable!!
My overall opinion of the pump is fair.  Every woman and every body is different.  If you prefer a more gentle pump, then this pump is definitely for you!  If you're like me and prefer something a bit more efficient and stronger force, it's not the best match.  If you're someone on the go a lot, this pump would also be a great match for you!  With the Medela, I had to purchase a separate charger to use in my car.  My Spectra has the same option (although there is the S1 which comes with the battery-used option).
Amazon sells the pump, it's currently $133.05 if you would like to purchase it (no pressure, I don't get any compensation either way 😉).

Calling all mom friends!

Hey, look, I'm writing again, and it hasn't been a year! 😂
I wanted to share a rare opportunity with my fellow mom friends.  I'm a member of this great community for moms called weespring.  It's a place filled with every kid-tuned item you could imagine, and real moms with real reviews.  Not long paragraphs like you find on Amazon or Target, just a sentence or two saying yeah this is great, or no this sucks don't buy it!  After becoming a member on weespring, I found it super easy to review stuff and just kept it up.  I had three kids, then became pregnant with Loki shortly after so my knowledge of baby and kid stuff is higher than most!
I was then invited by the founder to be part of their Parent Panel.  An exclusive review club that gets sent products to test (and keep)!  It's been awesome, I'm not going to lie.  I have received a hands-free breast pump attachment, a Diono high-back booster seat for Schylar, and a Baby Jogger stroller AND infant car seat (retail value is over $500 for the set!!).  Plus other smaller items.  Receiving these does require posting reviews on other sites, such as the brand itself, toys r us, etc. and submitting proof to the founder, but totally worth it!
Right now, weespring is opening up the parent panel to new moms, but only by invite of current members.  So here's the deal, if you would like the opportunity to review and keep free baby gear in exchange for your thoughtful feedback, click below one of the appropriate invite links:
Currently expecting your first little one?
Currently expecting your second (or third or fourth) little one?
Have a new baby at home?

Follow those links and set up your profile, then all you need to do is write 25 reviews on products you own (again, no need for you to write a novel; a sentence or two is fine).  Weespring will send you a demographic survey after that and try to match you up with products!

Great at Blogging

I think the title says it all.  It's been a year and five months since I last wrote, and that blog post was a sponsored post so I don't even know that it counts.  Things are SO much different from what they were last year.
I had another baby.  Oh yeah, that happened!  I was on the depo shot after having Odin, and went for my routine shot.  They couldn't confirm whether my previous shot had in fact been a depo shot, or if someone screwed up and gave me a flu shot instead (I got sick within a week of getting it)...and of course that little test they gave in the doctor's office came up positive.  When the doctor came in and said, "Well, I can't give you the next shot...it seems you're pregnant!  We'll set you up for an ultrasound to see how far along you are."  I bought Jeff two bottles of the winter Jack Daniels to break it to him...he laughed and was happy...it took me months to accept it.
I wasn't late for my shot.  I was still exclusively breastfeeding Odin, who was only seven months old.  It turned out I was about six weeks pregnant.  So don't ever believe your birth control is 100% effective.  Odin was a pull-out baby.  And now, as of June 29, 2017...Loki is a depo baby.
Yes, his name is Loki.  It seemed appropriate with the chaos that was my pregnancy.  No sooner did I get rid of morning sickness, I caught the flu and was sick for another 3 months.  Completely miserable.  After he started moving, there seemed to be this ongoing battle between him and Odin.  Odin would cuddle with me, Loki would start kicking him.  I would try to get a video of Loki moving in my belly, Odin would take over the camera.  It was adorable, but had me seriously concerned for how things would be after Loki was born.
The end of my pregnancy was probably the most hectic it could've ever been.  After our vacation last year, Jeff and I had talked about moving to Florida.  It became a more serious conversation after I became pregnant again and we HAD to get into a bigger house...our 3 bedroom doublewide just wasn't going to work anymore.  We used income tax returns to fix up his credit a bit, and were able to get approved for a mortgage, thanks to Veterans United.  $0 down, and a very-low interest rate considering his credit score was lingering right around 620-640. 
A friend of mine from Open Diary got us in touch with an amazing realtor, Christina Edwards, who was able to walk us through every step of the home-buying process...how much money we should plan to have for our good-faith offer, about how much inspections were going to cost, what other inspections may be required.  We initially were unsure of what location we were going to settle in, as Amazon has two facilities that we could transfer to.  In the end, we decided we wanted to be closer to Jeff's family so we chose Lakeland...which is about an hour's drive from where Christina lives and works.  But this woman is so fantastic, she made at least 5 trips to Lakeland to show houses, either to Jeff's parents, or Jeff once he got down to FL.  She found us our dream home and was able to negotiate the seller down into our price range AND have them cover all closing costs.  She helped us unload our Uhaul!  She spoiled our kids with welcome-to-FL gifts and even gave us a gift card for Walmart to help restock the pantry!  Seriously, made our hectic move a dream come true.
But boy, was it hectic!  The biggest concern was how long the transfer to the Lakeland, FL Amazon would be.  It's a high-demand building with low staff numbers because it's the  #1 non-sort in the country.  He put his transfer in May, and was approved June 1 with less than two weeks before his start date!  Fantastic, right?!  Except...I was due June 29th.  There was no way of all of us travelling to FL so late in the game, so he went by himself for a few weeks.  Thankfully, Loki came on his due date so daddy was able to be present, but we did have a scare when I was in early labor.
Our house had "sold" for asking price, pending the trailer park's approval of the buyer.  A month before we were set to move, while Jeff was already in FL, the buyer's boyfriend got laid off and they could no longer get park approval because of income.  Went into panic mode, of course.  Put the house back for sale (we listed it ourselves instead of going through a realtor)...went crazy cleaning AGAIN.  Had the house listed for $5000 less and ended up having to sell for HALF the original asking price because of it being so rushed at that point.  But it sold.  We got the offer the day I went into the hospital and gave birth!
I really didn't want to be induced this time around, but had scheduled induction on my due date because I had been having regular contractions for weeks and it was painful for them to do nothing.  Got to the hospital on the day of induction, only to be monitored and discover I was in labor on my own and had already gotten to 3 cm dilated!  They gave a little pitocin to help speed things up. 
This time, the anesthesiologist was prepared.  The doctor had informed him of my failed epidural with Odin, so after administering my epidural, he stuck around to see if it helped.  It didn't.  He maxed the dosage he could give me at once and I still felt everything.  He even did a pressure and coldness check to test me...push on certain spots, put an ice pack on other spots to see if I could identify pressure/temperature change.  He was ready to give me a second epidural when the nurse said about checking me first because something was going on with Loki's heartbeat.  When she checked me, she said, "I figured as much.  You're 10 cm dear.  We can either hold off a minute and let you get another epidural, or you can just push that baby out and be over the pain."  I know how quick I've delivered my last three kids so I decided fuck it, let's do another all-natural birth...the labor's the worst part anyway!
One contraction, three pushes later...my final baby was born.  Loki Gunthar, born at 5:23 PM on his due date, June 29, 2017.  21 inches, and 9 lb 7 oz.  I got my fallopian tubes REMOVED two weeks ago, but the doctors say even that's not 100% effective.  Seriously folks. 
Anyway.  Amazon has great maternity and paternity benefits, so Jeff was able to take six weeks paid leave to stay in PA and help finish packing everything up.  We booked a hotel room with a pool so the kids would have something to do for a couple weeks til we closed on our dream house.  On July 19, we hit the road.  His dad flew up from FL to drive the Uhaul for us, he drove his car with Vivienne and Odin on board, and I drove my car with Schylar and Loki.  His dad left before us and made a straight shot through.  We stopped halfway, in Florence, SC, for the night, then continued to Florida the following day.
After sitting in traffic through Orlando for HOURS, and getting separated because Jeff's GPS decided to take him onto the FL turnpike to avoid I-4 traffic at the last minute...I arrived at our hotel first.  Got checked in, and they tried charging me more than my Expedia rate.  First strike.  Arrive to the room, it was FILTHY.  My feet were black from walking barefoot.  There was mold and standing water in the bathtub.  The toilet had one of those sanitizing rings around it, but didn't have a lid!  I was so grossed out.  When Jeff arrived, we agreed to stay at the extended-stay hotel he had stayed at before.  Didn't have continental breakfast or pool like this one had advertised, but it was clean.  Called Expedia and explained everything to them, they called the hotel and offered to give us a full refund, minus that night since it was already about 9:00PM.  Fine, we're staying the night.  The bedsheets had stains, so I had Loki sleep on the changing table cushion on the sleeper chair beside us because it was so gross.  When we went to check out, discovered the "breakfast" they advertised was a couple different kinds of cereal...and the pool is right next to the overflowing dumpsters...ew!
So glad we checked out.  It was rather boring being in a hotel without a pool or anything for two weeks, but at least it was clean.  If you ever want to push your marriage limits folks, live in a hotel for 2 weeks as a family of 6.  By the end, we were all ready to kill each other! 
But we're here!  We bought a beautiful 4-bedroom house in Lakeland, FL...almost 2000 square feet, with almost half an acre of property.  Our neighbor is lake-front, we're lake-view, with lots of nice shady trees in the backyard.
One lady stopped by to introduce herself to us shortly after we moved in.  Turned out that she rents out several of the properties on our circle.  I mentioned that Jeff's parents were looking for a place and ironically, the people across the street were pending eviction for being three months late on rent!  Guess who lives across the street from us now!  It amazes me how much his parents love their grandchildren.  Even when they were living an hour away, if we needed something, they came.  They had no problems coming to visit regularly so they could see the kids.  And now it's basically an every day thing of the kids running across the street to see Nanny and Pappy.  I love that they finally get to experience that grandparent love that they've missed out on.
My dad...well, he was a grandparent when it was convenient to him.  Much like his parenting.  He can buy toys and take them out to play areas once a month, but to answer a phone call just to say hi or invite over to dinner...well, I'm just not the right child to do that for.  My mom was the best, but it's been 2.5 years since she passed now.  Some days it still feels weird.
The girls are making friends at their new school.  Schylar has a little boy who gives her presents every day!  I swear, he's stolen all of his sister's TY Beanie Boos, but he says she gave them to him because she doesn't want them anymore.  She's in first grade now already.  Struggling with grades right now, but her teacher was terrible, hardly ever there.  She's been placed on a long-term leave so hopefully we see improvement with her substitute!  Currently obsessed with unicorns. 
Vivienne is excelling like normal.  Straight A student.  She tried out and was accepted into the school's show choir.  And we found her an Irish dance school (in Celebration, 35 miles away) that she's started attending weekly.  She's in 3rd grade, but reading at a 4th grade level.  Basically a rockstar in everything she does.  Currently obsessed with the Eiffel Tower and Descendants.
Odin is just an amazing little being.  He's 20 months now (I know, already!) and is just so smart.  He understands everything you say, has an immaculate memory, and uses his problem-solving skills way too much.  He has to know how everything works, how everything is put together.  Baby gate?  Pulls up a chair and climbs over it.  Furniture obstacle?  Crawls over, under, around, or just pushes the furniture out of the way.  He's not talking much yet, but the doctor isn't concerned.  It'll happen one day.  Currently obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas and Hotel Transylvania 2.  (Totally my child there lol, everything else [minus his hanger issues] is his daddy) He loves building blocks, popping wheelies on his little V-Tech train, and staring at the girls at Hooter's.  And surprisingly, loves holding and hugging his baby brother.  He's very affectionate with Loki...not so much his sisters lol.
And then you have Loki, who is almost 4 months.  The sweetest, best baby I could ever ask for (seriously, with chasing Odin out of everything, I needed him as he is lol).  He loves breastfeeding and sleep.  He'll watch whatever is going on around him, whatever's on TV.  Loves his swing, not as big a fan of the bouncer (probably because Odin tried to climb in it with him).  Hardly ever cries.  He's sitting on my lap as I type this, in fact.  Just watching. 
Jeff and I are fantastic.  Minus those two weeks where we hated each other living in the hotel, this move has been the best thing for our family, and for us.  He's got a lot more opportunities to move up within Amazon, which he's really excited about.  We traded his car for a truck, so we can all actually ride in one vehicle together again (Viv loves being able to sit in the middle seat up front with us).  We get a lot more down time now, since the house is completely fenced in (and Odin hasn't quite figured out how to open the gate yet). 
I go back to work on Nov. 1.  Only part-time for now.  Not looking forward to it.  As much as I want to get out of the house and away from the kids some days, going to work is now how I want to spend my time!  Hopefully I'll enjoy working in the new building as much as he does.  Best part of the transfer is that we kept our PA wages.  Since FL has no income taxes, we're seeing $200-300 more per paycheck, even with him putting 4% into his retirement account.
Financially, even with picking up the truck payment and a mortgage, things are looking better than ever.  Hopefully they continue that way.
I started this because...Open Diary shut down.  That was my life force, where I would go regularly to express joy, sadness.  Some of my best friends I've met on there.  I finally get to meet one of those in real life tomorrow!  It was announced that OD is coming back by the end of the year.  I'll be on there, to at least download my diary (lost it when my laptop died).  I'll post an entry to link everyone to my facebook, that I am on daily.  I don't know if I'll pay to keep it up though...I guess it depends on how many of my friends come back.  There are several that I've wanted to find on facebook, but were never able to.  Two in particular, who helped me through the worst time of my life, that I'll never forget.  One used to live here in FL, so I'd love to meet up if she's still here...I guess I'll see.
I'm going to close this out before Odin wakes from his nap.  Maybe it won't be a year before my next post! ;)

Healthy Home Tips

Since my fun with the Healthy Baby Home Party is over, I'll share some of the tips we discovered at my party for all my blog guests!

• If you don't use cloth diapers, choose disposable diapers that are free of any whitening chemicals, synthetic fragrances or latex, and that are hypoallergenic, like Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers.  When you choose products that are free from bleaching, you are helping to reduce the amount of toxins released into the environment and can help make the world a healthier place for your baby and future generations.
• According to a study at the University of Washington, it is possible to immediately and dramatically reduce the pesticide content in your child's body by switching to organic foods.  So when you can, go organic!  (Source:  Lu, C. et al.  "Organic diets significantly lower children's dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticides."  Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 114, No. 2:260-263.  2006.)
• Instead of using room fresheners that contain synthetic chemicals, make your house smell fresh and clean by placing orange or lemon slices, cloves, or any other herb in boiling water on the stove.  Baking soda also helps mask pesky odors!
• Household dust is laced with chemicals, and floors are a major exposure source for babies and toddlers.  Vacuum at least twice a week with a HEPA filter, and use plain water to mop up dust and allergens that vacuuming leaves behind.  Also, use a cleaner with natural essential oils for scent, or one that is free of fragrances and dyes, like Seventh Generation's "Free and Clear" products.
• Choose foods and beverages that do not contain artificial coloring or dyes (anything identified as FD&C on a label).  Artificial food colors have been linker to allergies, asthma, hyperactivity and even cancer.  Also, be wary of labels that claim "no added preservatives."  These products can still contain ingredients that were already used to preserve prior to inclusion in the final product.
• Never heat plastic in the microwave or reuse plastics that have been left in warm areas.  Most plastics have been shown to leach chemicals into food, and heat promotes it.
• Houseplants don't just brighten your home--indoor plants also help absorb impurities in the air.  In several studies, certain plants have been shown to reduce harmful VOCs like formaldehyde and xylene.  Some of the best plants for purifying air include orchids, ferns, peace lilies, philodendrons, pothos, anthuriums and palms.
• When purchasing produce, go organic!  Focus on swapping out "The Dirty Dozen"--foods that contain the most pesticide residue. These include apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, nectarines (imported), lettuce, grapes, spinach, cucumbers, blueberries (domestic) and potatoes.  Wash all fruit and veggies with a mild soap and water before eating or use a food wash.
• Consider asking guests to remove their shoes before entering your home or place welcome mats around doors to encourage them to wipe their shoes. (Make sure to clean mats regularly!) Rough 70% of household dust, pests, pollutants and dirt (which often contains lead and chemicals) are tracked indoors on the bottom of shoes.
• When purchasing blankets or bedding for your baby, aim for certified organic and/or natural fibers that are lighter in color (less harsh dying) and avoid those marked as "permanent press," "easy care" or "no iron," which can contain formaldehyde.
• When you use soap, choose the mildest soap possible--one without synthetic fragrances or antibacterial chemicals.  Triclosan, an ingredient commonly found in antibacterial products, has been linked to negative environmental and health impacts.  Skin is a semi-permeable membrane and is the largest organ of the body, so be considerate of what you put on it.
• Use a stainless steel water bottle, or a self-filtering water bottle system like bobble's, to keep you and your baby hydrated on the go.
• Before sleeping on a new mattress, remove the plastic and lean the mattress against a wall in a well-ventilated room until the "new smell" dissipates.  The chemicals you smell when opening a new plastic toy or shower curtain are VOCs.  By airing them out near an open window, you help maintain a healthier indoor air quality instead of letting toxic chemicals concentrate indoors.
• Here is an old school pest prevention technique worth trying!  To prevent ants and fleas from entering your house, mix 4 ounces of a natural soap in 1 gallon of water and spray around your home's foundation.  Simple!
• Tackle weeds without pesticides.  Spray them with white vinegar, smother with mulch, or douse with boiling water.  Pesticides applied to your lawn leave toxic residues that can end up drifting into your home and exposing your family.
• When possible, use alternatives to plastic like glass, lead-free ceramic and stainless steel for dishes and glassware.  This helps limit exposure to the toxic chemicals that many plastics are made with, which can be absorbed by your food and beverages.
• Use more natural cleaners that are made with biodegradable, plant-based ingredients and formulated to be non-toxic.  Look for those that don't create harsh fumes or emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvent-based ingredients.
• Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air.  Ventilate the home by opening windows, and limit your use of air fresheners and chemical cleaning products that release potentially harmful VOCs into your indoor environment.
• Teething is a beautiful part of babyhood, but not so much fun for mom.  To soothe babies without chemicals, looks for pacifiers that are latex-free and fitted for your baby's age (a newborn should use a pacifier designed for a newborn).  Make sure it has a vented shield of at least 1.5 inches to prevent choking.
• Look for a 100% natural crib mattress made with natural materials, like organic cotton, wool, hemp, natural latex or bamboo.  Avoid traditional foam-based mattresses, which can be treated with flame retardants that have been shown to have possible negative effects on our health.
• The term "fragrance" or "parfum" on the label of baby care products can represent hundreds of unknown chemicals since manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients.  Whenever possible, look for products that use 100% natural fragrance for the scent or offer fragrance-free formulations to protect your baby.
• Purchase toys made from natural materials, like solid woods with non-toxic finishes and natural textiles like organic cotton or wool.  The familiar "new smell" that plastic toys often emit can be a sign that toxic softeners or finishes were used to make the product.
• Test your water.  Ask your local water supplier for a list of the chemicals they test for and check the Consumer Confidence Report to see how your water is treated.  Today, there are many professional water filters designed to filter out specific chemicals to purify your water.
• Check regularly to see if your vacuum bag is full and requires changing.  HEPA filters provide a recommended replacement date.

Healthy Baby Home Party

You're asking yourself what?  What in the world is a healthy baby home party, right?  Well, in case you missed my previous post (it was a couple months ago now), it's sponsored by one of my favorite brands, Seventh Generation (and no, they're not paying me to say that, even with all the free goodies I get!).
Seventh Generation's home parties are powered by people like you who are focused on creating a healthy environment for the next generation.  Developed with input from non-profit partner, Healthy Child Healthy World, they are a great way to get together with friends, share helpful information, and make an impact!
Healthy Baby Home Party kits are provided to all selected hosts and are filled with educational info about our environment, helpful tips, a fun game, and samples and coupons from Seventh Generation and other favorite family-friendly brands like bobble, American Meadows and Zarbee's Naturals.

Before I go bragging about the awesome time we had at my party, I wanted to advertise to fellow friends and bloggers!  Seventh Generation is doing another round of Healthy Baby Home Parties and if you're interested in hosting, they are accepting applications.  The process is simple.
Sign up at Generation Good to join the Generation Good community (or log in if you're already a member).  Not only will you have this opportunity, but you'll be given the opportunity to test other products from their line!
Accept the Healthy Baby Home Party Application offer on your Generation Good dashboard and complete the application.
Applicants will be notified mid-June if they have been selected to host a party via an email to the email address assigned to their profile.
All selected applicants will then need to confirm their participation by accepting the Healthy Baby Home Party mission on Generation Good and confirm their shipping address.
This is for US residents only, however they are planning to open up Canadian parties later in the year.

Now for the excitement!  I was chosen to host a party this past round and had a great time!
The only downside of the event...Seventh Generation sent this AWESOME box that one side was made to color!  Unfortunately, it was raining the day our box was delivered, and you know how the FedEx guy never knocks?  Well, he also doesn't mind dropping boxes in puddles even though you have a covered porch that the box could have been slid under... -_- So the bottom of our box got soggy and the side for coloring was all wet from rain...but look how cute!!!

Luckily our inside goodies weren't harmed in any way!!

You would think with all the photos I take, I would have gotten some of the party, but we were having so much fun (and I had ahold of my son, who was 2 months old at the time) that I didn't get any!!

To start, everyone who came received a sample bag.  In the bag, it contained:  single serving of Seventh Generation laundry detergent, single serving of Seventh Generation dish soap, one helping of Plum Organics Mighty Mealtime meals, one serving of Zarbee's Baby grape cough syrup, 2 unscented Seventh Generation wipes, a packet of American Meadows "bee happy" flower seeds, free shipping codes for a bobble purchase, and a BINGO card.
Some of the moms who came to my party have older children, some are still pregnant, so the products didn't "fit" everyone...it was nice to watch my friends chat and swap samples so that everyone got the best out of the party!
Bingo was where all the fun was.  We had 4 prizes up for grabs...the "hot item" being a bag of Seventh Generation size 4 diapers (I would have greedily kept those, but my little man is just now going into size 3...he was still in 2's at the time of the party), a full-size pack of SG wipes, a full-sized bottle of SG dish soap, and a bobble water infuser bottle!
The Bingo game had cards for me which contained cleaning tips and interesting facts, and each had a picture on it relating to the information.  The tots loved being able to play because they could match the pictures (a lot easier than finding those numbers on a normal bingo card!).  The first winner snatched up those diapers, and then some of the "old moms" (toddler and school aged children) won the next two rounds so they grabbed the dish soap and water infuser.  I was "left" with the wipes as my hosting prize, which I will never complain about.  My son is breastfed and poops A LOT (seriously, at least 6 times in the last 24 hours...only once while daddy was home from work -_- lol).

I will post some additional info (and a major deal for you, at that!).

There is a subscription service available to have SG diapers and wipes delivered to you (and you can purchase all sorts of other earth-friendly products).  They're sold by the Grove Company.  You can sign up here using my link, and you'll receive $10 towards your first purchase!!  Once you're all signed up, head here to receive a free trial of their diapers and wipes!  The only out-of-pocket expense is $1,99 shipping and handling fee.  That was my free sample shown above!  31 size 3 diapers and a 30-pack of wipes.  Really, who could complain?!
Being honest here, I haven't busted open that pack of size 3's yet, we're finishing up the bags of size 2 that he has...but I LOVE their diapers.  When I was pregnant, I was all about Huggies because that's what I'd used with all three of my daughters.  Apparently, a lot has changed in five years...but I'll do a diaper review on another review posting maybe later in the week!
With SG, I haven't had any blow outs.  They don't puff out like some other diapers do.  And the wipes, OMG.  What it takes two Huggies wipes to clean, I can do in one!!
The only thing I will alert you, with the free sample of diapers, it does automatically enroll you in the monthly subscription.  As long as you cancel within the 7 day window, you will not be billed.  Cancelling is so easy too, just log back onto the website and go to your account.  No emails, no phone calls, just a couple clicks on your computer screen.
If you do choose to enroll, it's $69.99 per month and you receive 256 wipes and...
Newborn (under 9 lbs):  216 diapers
Stage 1 (10-12 lbs):  240 diapers
Stage 2 (13-15 lbs):  216 diapers
Stage 3 (16-22 lbs):  186 diapers
Stage 4 (23-27 lbs):  162 diapers
Stage 5 (28-35 lbs):  138 diapers
Stage 6 (over 35 lbs):  120 diapers.

That's my little man rocking his size 2 SG diapers.  He's 15.5 lbs at 3 months old, so we're making the switch to the next size up.

Read the shirt ^^ He seriously is.  That's my healthy happy baby...post yours :D

Splat! Arctic Fox & Manic Panic Review

Picking up my oldest daughter from school the other day, I laughed when someone asked me if I was going through a mid-life crisis.  Me?  At 27 years old?  What on earth would make you think that?  Ohhh, possibly because I finally got bored of the standard "mom" look of blonde and red highlights so I bleached my entire head and turned it into, as my best friend calls it, mermaid hair?  Nope, that's just me being me, but thanks for thinking I'm having a mental breakdown!!
I actually decided to use my boredom with my hair as an opportunity to experiment with different non-traditional brands of hair color.  I got my inspiration browsing through Pinterest, and my initial goal was to do pink on top, a layer of purple, and then blue underneath.  I've dyed my hair more times then I can count, including rainbow colors, but this was a first for layering (I hate roots growing out, to be honest).  After searching Youtube, found some videos to give me an idea on how to successfully do it.
So the first step was collecting all the dye.  Like I said, I wanted to try the top 3 brands that are sold locally.  The first one, a brand I steadily follow on Facebook to see others' beautiful creations, is Arctic Fox.  Their site says their dye "is vibrant, long-lasting, semi-permanent hair dye that is made in the USA.  We are vegan, cruelty-free and contain added conditioners."  A brand I definitely feel good using.  I have actually used them on my 5 year old's hair before because of it being a "healthier" brand of hair dye and didn't require her hair to be pre-treated in order for color to show.  I chose the color Wrath, which is a reddish-pink according to their site.  You can purchase through their site directly and through Amazon; I picked my bottle up from our local mall at Hot Topic.
The next shade I wanted was a purple shade, and while I was at Hot Topic picking up the first bottle, I noticed they also sold Manic Panic.  They are also a semi-permanent dye that is vegan and has additional conditioners.  Now, I've used Manic Panic previously, and have a love hate relationship with them.  I've had multiple successes with their dyes...but also multiple failures.  In my experience, the dye is definitely not close to the shade they say it will be (your hair apparently has to be white in order to get those).  I've had pink not show up at all, a red that stayed red for two days and then turned pink (shortly after the initial pink fail, so I was happy with this outcome), a black that was actually blue, and I've had a purple that was a beautiful shade of purple.  One thing I noticed with EVERY experience with Manic Panic was the lack of staying power.  I could keep the dye in my hair for 6+ hours and it still would be faded or all out by the end of the second week.  But to be fair, I chose to get their Velvety Violet since I'd had success with their purple before.  They have limited colors on their site, but Amazon has many, and they are also carried at Sally Beauty Supply (where I had normally purchased it).
My last color of choice required a trip to Walmart.  The third brand I chose was Splat, who claims to be the longest-lasting and most vibrant colors on the market.  I wanted blue, but not dark, so their Aqua Rush was my go-to color.  Now, their brand comes with instructions and bleach to pre-lighten your hair.  The others do not.  My hair is thick and long, and I'm happy I had a second box to finish up with because that mix was nowhere near enough to lighten my entire head...it was enough to do the roots area, that was it!

So, time to dye.  I started off by sectioning my hair.  The top I pulled up for pink.  Then I pulled up the part that I wanted purple, wrapped each side up separately around the top part.  Then I separated my hair into smaller sections and started doing the blue around the bottom.  Once I was satisfied with that, moved on to the purple, then finally the pink.  (Sorry, no picture of the in-progress...didn't want dye all over my Iphone.)

I let it in for an hour from the completion time, which is what the Splat recommended.  Technically blue and purple had longer to set, but the pink was in for an hour.  Then came rinsing.  I don't have a second set of hands to help me (husband was taking care of our 2-month-old son while I was doing my hair).  So I got to take the most miserable shower ever, because rinsing with warm water is a big no-no (rinses out the color faster).  Cue cold shower to rinse.  I felt like I was going to freeze to death, I swear.  And after 20 minutes, even though the water still wasn't rinsing clear, it was diluted enough that I was no longer concerned about ruining my towels or bed sheets.
Took a picture of the "wet" fresh out of the shower look, and noticed something right away.  My hair didn't look purple.  Gave it the benefit of the doubt...it was a pastel purple after all.  When my hair was completely dry, I checked again.  Nope, no purple [Manic Panic] AT ALL.  It was still completely blonde.
The blue [Splat] was very bright and vibrant, as was the Pink [Arctic Fox].  I was actually really pleased with the pink.  Expected it to be more of a red based off the bottle and the "sample" in store, but it is a beautiful hot pink.

Next day, I ended up redoing the section that was supposed to be done with Manic Panic, I mixed a bit of the Splat and Arctic Fox that I had left and created my own purple.  My brother says it reminds him of how a fish's scales change color (in a good way, he says).  Apparently, my hair is very aquatic...but I was quite happy with how that turned out.

So for color and vibrancy, I give Arctic Fox a 10/10 (and definitely recommend them...the dye alone smells SO GOOD!!!).
Manic Panic gets a 0/10 (seriously, I used the entire tub on a small section of hair and NOTHING).
Splat will get a 7/10.  You can still see the blonde shining through the blue tint from close up, but the color worked great and is very bright.

Staying power will be the next competition?  As of right now, we're a week in.  Honestly, parts of the blue have started to fade away already, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt and letting time pass without re-coloring it.

Healthy Baby Home Party!

What is a Healthy Baby Home Party?
Seventh Generation's home parties are powered by people like you who are focused on creating a healthy environment for the next generation.  Developed with input from non-profit partner, Healthy Child Healthy World, they are a great way to get together with friends, share helpful information, and make an impact!

Healthy Baby Home Party kits are provided to all selected hosts and are filled with educational info about our environment, helpful tips, a fun game, and samples and coupons from Seventh Generation and other family-friendly brands like bobble, Plum Organics and Zarbee's Naturals.

What is the Application Process?
Sign up at www.generationgood.net to join the Generation Good community, or log in if already a member.
Accept the Healthy Baby Home Party Application offer on your Generation Good dashboard and complete the application.
Applicants will be notified by end of March if they have been selected to host a party, via an email to the email address assigned to their Generation Good member profile.
All selected applicants will then need to confirm their participation by accepting the Healthy Baby Home Party Mission in Generation Good and confirm their shipping address.
1900 FREE party kits will be distributed in this round.
Hosting spots are open to US residents only at this time.  Canadian parties are planned for later in 2016!
Full terms and conditions are available within Generation Good in the "Healthy Baby Home Party Application" offer.