Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Chalk Spray

I made little man some chalk spray yesterday! I got the idea HERE from Infarrantly Creative - the only thing I changed was that I used food coloring instead of washable tempura paint (because I didn't have any). I am happy to say that the food coloring didn't stain hands, clothing or the sidewalk. Although, next time I think I will add more color. :)

This is awesome!


Little man picked out the blue color all by himself!
Then we poured it in a cup and painted with it!

...then it became finger paint! This was little man's favorite!
 
Mommy, you need to touch it too! It actually felt kinda cool - thick and a bit slimy :)

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, July 25, 2011

-CLOSED- Planet Wise Sandwich & Snack Bags Review & Giveaway from Diaper Safari!



Even though Diaper Safari has been in the cloth diaper business for 11 years, I had just recently heard about them. Diaper Safari has expanded their product line and they now offer an even wider range of cloth diapers, accessories, gear and more! On top of that, they offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders in the contiguous USA! (I love free shipping)  Diaper Safari wants to help customers find a cloth diaper system that will work for their baby and they are committed to offering their customers the highest quality of cloth diapers. Diaper Safari's customer service is easy to talk to and they are very friendly, their website is easy to navigate and they have a good variety of items to shop from on their site  - they really do have something for everyone!  

Recently, I was given the opportunity to work with Diaper Safari and review the Planet Wise Reusable Snack Bag Gift Pack (1 window sandwich bag, 1 snack bag, 1 sandwich wrap)! I was so excited! I am always looking for ways to become "greener" and re-use rather than just throw things away. I have recently been looking for ways to become less dependent on plastic baggies. Planet Wise Sandwich and Snack Bags are a perfect solution!

Diaper Safari let me select my favorite prints and sent me:
  •  1 window sandwich bag in the Lime Cocoa Bean print
  • 1 snack bag in The Owls print
  • 1 sandwich wrap in The Lime Squares print

I was really impressed with how quickly Diaper Safari mailed me the sandwich & snack bags - I got them in 3 days! When I opened the package, I immediately fell in love with them! The prints are vibrant and fun, the design of each bag is great and they seem very sturdy (like they can take come serious toddler use and still look great!).  

I love that the Planet Wise Sandwich and Snack Bags are:
  • Made with FDA Food Safe Material
  • PVC, BPA, Phthalate, Latex and Lead Free
  • CPSIA Compliant 
  • Made in the USA
(That makes me feel really good about using them for little man's food and snacks!)

I have really enjoyed using the sandwich and snack bags over this past week! They have been so handy and convenient to be able to pack up some food and take them along in my diaper bag!

The Planet Wise Reusable Sandwich Wrap was a totally new concept to me. I have never "wrapped" a sandwich before! I have always used plastic baggies or plastic containers to take my lunch along when we go out for the day or just bought food while out shopping. These are definitely some habits that I am trying to change - for financial reasons (since buying plastic baggies & buying food while out isn't cheap) and for eco-conscious reasons (re-using a bag is way better that throwing plastic baggies away). 

At first, I wasn't sure if I was wrapping my sandwich the "right way", but I must have done it correctly, because it closed up nicely with the hook & loop closure. It was actually really neat to use though. Voila!  My sandwich was ready for travel!

I also think that once you unwrap your sandwich, you can use the wrap as a place mat!  It was also very easy to clean. (Yay!) I had gotten mustard on it from my sandwich and I just wiped it clean with a quick swipe of the sponge, ran it under some water and let it air dry. 




 The Planet Wise Reusable Window Bag is a really neat concept for a re-usable bag. I think that it is a great feature for the front to be see-through. It would be especially helpful when you are making different sandwiches for multiple kids (adults too!) - you would be able to see what is inside without having to open it. It's also great to use for things other than sandwiches, like a mini medical kit, a cloth wipe bag, crayons, a safe place for small toys, sliced fruit, cookies or other snacks! 
Some band-aids, Neosporin, and hand sanitizer.
A PB&J sandwich for little man!
I think that my favorite features of this bag are the No Leak Seams and the angled corners! The angled corners are awesome! I didn't have any problems with bits of food or crumbs getting stuck in the corners, because...there aren't any corners! The Window Bag was is just so versatile and so easy to clean (even the peanut butter and jelly wiped right off)! I loved being able to "see" inside the bag and it is a very well made - it never open accidentally in my bag, nothing leaked and nothing got squished in my diaper bag either (not that I had it in-between a bunch of books or anything...just a normal diaper bag with normal toddler & mom stuff)
Home-made zucchini bread! I cut it into bite size cubes for little man.

Snack time at the farmer's market!

Mmmm... Zucchini bread. The Window Bag did a great job of keeping the zucchini bread fresh and un-smashed!

The Snack Bag has pretty much taken up permanent residence in my diaper bag. I love it and little man loves it. I really like that the Snack bag also has the No Leak Design and that the corners are angled for easy cleaning. The Snack Bag is just as sturdy as the other sandwich bags and is the perfect size for little man to hold onto. It would also be a great place to pack crackers, fruit, crayons, or any other small item.


It is great to have when we are out shopping, because it keeps little man entertained! He loves to try and open it, but since the hook & loop closure goes all the way across the bag (also like the Window Bag), he can't get it open (yet). Little man really likes owls right now and he loves to hold the snack bag, point at the owls and go "Hooo! Hooo!" or he will ask for "Owls? Cookies?" when we are in a store. He knows that every day I fill it with animal crackers and he gets some when we are out shopping/driving somewhere/at the park. I think that the size makes is great for portion control for treats and it makes little man happy.     

Hubby was smart and folded the bag over on itself so there was a small opening and little man could reach in to grab one cookie at a time!

I love all three of the Planet Wise Sandwich and Snack Bags! They really have so many uses and I am so happy to be able to re-use them again and again!

Interested in shopping for some Planet Wise Sandwich and Snack Bags for your little one? They are perfect for wrapping up lunches, snacks and anything else you need a baggie for! They'd be so cute to use for your little one's lunch box when school starts again or even to pack a lunch for yourself!

You can BUY Planet Wise Sandwich and Snack Bags here in an array of colors and prints! The Planet Wise Reusable Sandwich Wrap, Window Bag the Snack Bag are all priced at $7.99 each.

-OR-

  You can WIN a Planet Wise Reusable Snack Bag Gift Pack (1 window sandwich bag, 1 snack bag, 1 sandwich wrap) from Diaper Safari in your choice of colors/prints! 
Here's how to enter:
Mandatory Entry:
  • First, you must publicly follow my blog via GFC and then visit Diaper Safari and let me know what color(s)/print(s) your would choose for your 3 bags if you win!
*This mandatory entry must be completed for the rest of your entries to be valid. I will be checking/verifying your comments, if you say you signed up for something or did something, you do need to actually do it for it to count as an entry*
 
Extra Entries:
  •  Follow Diaper Safari @diapersafari on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway.  Leave the URL where you Tweeted.  (1 entry)

  • Like Diaper Safari on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here (1 entry)
  •  Follow The Little Hedgehog on Facebook. (1 entry) 

    • Follow The Little Hedgehog @lttlehedgehog on Twitter and comment here with your Twitter ID. (1 entry) 
    • Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with a direct link to your tweet so I can see it to get your entry!  You may use this tweet or make up your own:  
      #Win a set of Planet Wise Sandwich & Snack Bags from @diapersafari & @lttlehedgehog! http://bit.ly/nJFIzU {Ends 8/8} #eco #green #giveaway
      (1 entry per day)
    • Sign up to receive The Little Hedgehog emails via feedburner and have your subscription verified. (2 entries) 
    •  Add my button to your blog and leave me a link (2 entries)
      • Blog about this review/giveaway. Be sure to include a link to this review/giveaway. Comment with a link to your blog post to get your entry! (2 entries)  

      • Vote for my blog on Picket Fence Blogs (1 entry)

      *Don't forget to put your email address in each comment so I can get a hold of you if you are the lucky winner! If I cannot get a hold of you, I will have to draw another winner! Also, I will check to make sure that the winner filled out the mandatory entry.

      ***Open to the US***

      I'll accept entries until Monday, August 8, 2011 at Midnight PST. I'll select a winner using random.org's random number generator, then email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email and if I don't get a response, I will have to choose another winner. Again, make sure you leave your email address in your comment!

      *Diaper Safari will be sending the winner’s prize item to them directly.*
      *This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking these links you are supporting The Little Hedgehog* 
       
      Thank you to Diaper Safari for providing me with the opportunity to host this review and giveaway at no cost to myself. The items were sent to me free of charge for review and has not influenced my opinion of the product. I have sought to give my honest opinions and experiences on this product. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Thank you again to Diaper Safari for sponsoring this review and giveaway!





      Saturday, July 23, 2011

      I'm On The Fence!

      I finally decided to join Picket Fence Blogs! I have seen so many other bloggers "On the Fence" that I enjoy reading, so I thought that it was time for me to add The Little Hedgehog to the Picket Fence blogging directory. I hemmed and haw-ed about it for awhile, wondering if it mattered or if my blog was "worthy" of being a part of a blog directory. I finally just went for it and thought, why not! I enjoy blogging and sharing with readers my pictures, our family adventures, reviews and giveaways...so really, what do I have to lose?

      Have you joined Picket Fence Blogs? Do you have any tips for me? Are there any tips?


      If you enjoy reading my blog and feel inclined to do so... I would really appreciate your vote!

      Wednesday, July 20, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday - My Dapper Little Man


      Oohhhh...What a charmer! We took little man out on the town to do a bit of "high fashion" window shopping at Nordstrom's shoe department. While I oooh-ed and aahhh-ed at the pretty shoes, little man was also having a marvelous time  - being spun on the round-shoe-chair-thingy by his daddy ...and he loved it! Little man squealed in delight and...he squealed loudly! Haha! It was music to my ears, but probably not the other shoppers at Nordstrom, so we quickly put the kibosh on our shenanigans. ;)

      Happy Wednesday everyone!


      Tuesday, July 19, 2011

      Green Mama Blog Hop


      Welcome to the Green Mama Blog Hop!

      Please only join this hop if you deem your blog as 'green'. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or if you're a pro.. this Green Mama Blog Hop is for you!

      My goal is to have more and more people join each week! But that can't happen without your help. If you could please post the button on your blog, as well as in a post, that would be great! Thanks so much for your involvement! I want us 'Green Mamas' to befriend each other and be there for questions or support.






      ~Lovely Hostesses~


      ~Featured Blog~
      Each week, there will be a fourth, Featured Blog to be followed as well. To qualify to be the Featured Blog, you will need to participate in all of the guidelines. I will pick one at random from all qualifiers. I will email you the Monday before the Hop, if you are chosen.


      Hopping Guidelines:


      MANDATORY:

      * Add your blog's home page to the Linky list! I will be monitoring the blogs to make sure we only have 'green', family-friendly blogs involved.

      * Follow the 3 hosts, Featured Blog and the blog ahead of yours. Make sure to leave comments on each of the blog so they can follow you back! The more you follow, the more will follow you back!


      OPTIONAL:

      (You don't have to do these to enter the hop, but you must do both to qualify for the Featured Blog position)

      * Grab the new Green Mama Blog Hop button and place it on your home page.

      * Put the button into a post on your blog. Then leave a comment on this Hop post with the link.

      This hop will open each Tuesday night and will be open all week. It will start over each week, so keep coming back each week to enter!


      Welcome to the Green Mama Blog Hop! Enjoy!



      Sunday, July 17, 2011

      Zookies Diaper Covers - The Origional & A NEW, Trimmer Cover: Comparison/Review

       
      A little while back (during the Flats and Handwashing Challenge), I had the wonderful opportunity to try out and review Zookies Diaper Covers for the first time. I loved my Zookies cover so much that I bought another one in the one-size design and Michele was so sweet and found some more hedgehog fabric to make my cover with! I love the one-size design! I love how adjustable it is on the rise and that the cover was roomy enough to use a variety of flats and prefolds in it. It is especially great for nap-time! 

      The Original One-Size Design that I bought:


      Well, a few weeks ago, I found out that I had won a Zookies Diaper Cover from a giveaway that I entered awhile back! Wow! Yay! So, I emailed Michele, we chatted a bit and I let her know two fabrics that I really liked from her website. While we were chatting, Michele asked me if I would be able to give her with some feedback on some revisions she had done to the one-size diaper. Michele had been getting a lot of feedback that the diaper covers were TOO roomy and a bit on the large side for most babies. While her first one-size diaper covers were successfully tested on 8lb. twins, others thought they were huge. So Michele trimmed down the one-size diaper just a bit. After making a few adjustments and settling on her revisions, Michele wanted to know if she sent me a new trim version, if I could let her know what I though about it?  Of course! I love my Zookies covers and Michele has been so fantastic to talk to and work with. I was definitely more than happy to help out!

      Michele surprised me by sending me the new, trim one-size diaper in the hedgehog print again! Yay! I was delighted when I opened my package! Isn't it just adorable?



       So, I got my new, trim one-size Zookies cover and I got my older, one-size cover and decided to compare them, one right after the other. I used a Flip insert with both covers, since Michele was looking to see if the new style was a bit trimmer. I set both diapers to the medium setting for little man.
      This is the new cover on top of the older cover. You can see it is a little smaller.

      Here is the first cover with a Flip insert in it:
      Here is the new cover with a Flip insert in it:
      The Flip cover definitely fits more precisely in the newer cover

      When all snapped up and wrapped around little man, I also noticed a difference in the length around the waist

      This is the first diaper cover - No extra snap here! I love that Michele added the crossover snap option!
      Notice how there is an extra snap showing in the middle on the new trimmer style cover

      I love that in both the original cover and  with the new cover, I didn't feel that I lost any of the length in the rise. Little man has a long torso and has grown out of a couple of his one-size diapers because their rise wasn't high enough. Here are some pictures of little man in both diapers from the side and back. You can see how the original style has plenty of room is the tushy area and is a little baggy. I think that this is great if you are using different inserts for a more absorbent diaper (some fitteds, multiple inserts, prefolds, etc). The newer style definitely has a little extra room for more padding (maybe slightly bulkier insert/flat diaper/prefold), but I think that it is noticeably trimmer.

      Here are some pictures of little man modeling the original style cover:



        Here are some of the newer, trimmer style:




      Overall, I think that the new version of the one-size is indeed trimmer. It is smaller by just enough that I think it removes some of the "saggy-ness" from the tushy area. I think that they previous design is perfect for when you need to stuff thicker inserts in, like big prefolds or a fitted diaper. It works great for having plenty of room for nap-time/night-time absorbtion needs. The new, trimmer style though is much better for thinner inserts and even flats. It is perfect for when you don't need quite so much extra fluff stuffed into a cover. I think that the new style is trimmed up just enough (at least for little man) while still retaining enough length on the rise. I still love my older style Zookies, but I think the new, trimmer styling to the Zookies cover is great and will likely fit a greater variety of little ones with an average insert in it.

      Thank you again Michele! I love my hedgehog print Zookies Diaper Covers and thank you so much for letting me test your new, trim diaper cover for you! 


      Interested in getting a Zookies Diaper Cover or another fun goody for your little one? You can shop for Zookies of their Website or their Etsy Shop! XS Diaper covers are $10 and Small, Medium and Large Diaper Covers range from $13-15. One size diapers are $17.00. You can even have Zookies take your favorite fabric and make it into a diaper cover -  Sized covers are $9.50 plus shipping and one size are $11.50 plus shipping. 

      You can also connect with Zookies on their blog or on Facebook
      Special thanks to Zookies for the one-size Diaper Cover! The item was sent to me free of charge as a prize that I won from a giveaway. This has not influenced my opinion of the product. I have sought to give my honest opinions and experiences on this product. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Thank you again to Michele of  Zookies!