Cloth Diaper Giveaway & WAHM Review: Tailored by Erica *CLOSED*

Hey all!!

It has been quite awhile since I have done a review.  But I am super excited to be introducing you to another fabulous work at home mom, Erica from Tailored by Erica.  She has two boys (2 years and 6 months) and together, with her husband, they live on her grandma's farm!  How fun is that!?!  She has been sewing since she was 9 years old and got her first sewing machine for her 10th birthday!  She even made her own prom gowns.  One was John Deere and the other was camouflage!  

That theme has carried over into her cloth diaper shop!  She sells newborn and one size diapers.  Currently all of the ones on Etsy are camo or bandanna print!  Since Hubby and I are a little bit country, I was pretty excited when Erica asked if would do a review.

Cloth Diapers with a country flair!

For review purposes, she sent me a camouflage one size pocket diaper.  And as a thank you, she also sent a newborn cover in the bandanna print.  Super sweet, right?  It is the cutest little thing....

So tiny and precious.  :)

The camo diaper is pretty neat!  My brother, who very rarely has anything to say about material items, told me he really liked my new diaper.  So I knew it was a big hit with him!

Smallest Setting

Largest Setting

There is definitely room to grow!  I will, say, however, the the smallest setting seems a bit big for a one size (OS) diaper.  We have it on the smallest setting right now.  Aelah is 10 months old and almost 19 lbs.  Admittedly, however, she is a bit skinny since she is so long for her age.  But I don't think this would have fit her (without leakage) very long before now.  

UPDATE: Erica let me know after posting this that she is already in the process of adjusting her OS design so that it will fit smaller.  Guess I should have checked with her on that first.  :/

Here is the fit on her right now...

But, honestly, that would be my only complaint.  Outside of that, this diaper is awesome!  Why?

• It is unique...definitely haven't seen very many camo diapers
• It doesn't leak at night!!  Stuffed with a double microfiber insert and a bamboo booster...which is what we put in my other tried and true pockets.
• It has an adorable ruffle on the butt for some added girly-ness!  

Lace is good.  :)

• The inside is made of a very soft almost mesh type material.  It keep baby's bottom dry and actually doesn't stain very easily.   UPDATE: While this fabric is fantastic, Erica has switched to a stay-dry cottom velour for the inside of her diapers.  Apparently, it is very similar to bumGenius 4.0.

Looks run of the line here....

But up close, it is a bit different.  Almost like Gro Via shells....but a bit softer...

• They are affordable!!  You can snag a one size pocket for just $14!  And her newborn diapers are only $10!

I love being able to add a diaper to my stash that I know we will be reaching for often!  This is a 5-Star keeper!!

Ruffle Butt!!

SO cute!

Kissable!

**Additional Note - inserts are not included when purchasing from Tailored by Erica.  However, you can purchase each diaper as a pocket OR cover and the newborn diapers include an AIO (All in One) option.  I love having options!  

As a thank you to Erica for this review and giveaway - be sure to follow her on one of the following social media outlets.  Thanks!

Etsy

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To Buy: Head over to the Etsy shop here.

To Win: Enter to win the diaper of your choice (must be in stock on Etsy) by using the Giveaway Tool below:

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Must-Haves for Baby 3-6 Months

This post has been a loooooong time in coming!  Aelah is about to be 9 months and I've been meaning to write this since she turned 6 months!  haha.

I should preface, again, that these aren't actual necessities.  This is our list of "must-haves" that we don't think we could have survived without.  Though, in reality, I know we could have.  :)

This post contains some affiliate links.  If you happen to click and purchase, thank you so much for helping to support our family!

1. An Exersaucer! (or something similar)

Our little lady, like many others, was pretty nosey from the beginning.  But she, obviously, wasn't mobile at 3 months.  So the exersaucer was a great way for her to see what was going on, to get up off the floor. She absolutely loved it.  Wacked herself in the face a few times with the toys, but she loved chewing on them....still does!

This was the very first time she was in this....LOVED it!

2. Boppy Pillow

I didn't include this on my 0-3 month list and I probably should have.  So I'm adding it here.  While I never got the hang of it while nursing (it was just one more thing I had to figure out), the boppy pillow was the perfect place to lay her.  While she was awake, it was a nice place to prop her up so she could see a little bit better and later on, it was great for tummy time so she wasn't flat on the floor.  Naps were also great in the boppy!  Loved seeing her lay there so content and peaceful.  Additionally, it is great at this age for propping up behind them when they first start sitting up.

Full disclosure, she was only 2 months in this pic...but it was the only one I could find with her boppy....weird.

3. Teething Toys

Because of how much she loved to chew, we had thought Aelah was getting teeth from about 3 months on!  Currently, she has two nubs but nothing has broke through the skin yet and she is days away from being 9 months!  haha.  But teething toys were a lifesaver, these were a few of our favorites:

Sophie the Giraffe (see picture below)

These Blue Spoons - yep, she chewed on them before we started food

Wooden Teether

This is the...."Seriously? You guys are eating in from of me and all I get are these toys?" look.....

4. Noisy Toys

When I say "noisy," I don't mean toys that have volume buttons or flashing lights.  I mean simple toys that can be distracting and fun for a tiny little human.  :)  These were our favorites:

Crinkle Paper from Marleys Monsters.  Definitely one of Aelah's favorites from very early on.  And I recommend it to any mom I can!  So convenient to tuck in a purse or pocket!  (See picture above)

Maraca Egg - We had one that was gifted to us awhile before baby from the Earthbound Trading Co.  I found it after she was born and it was one of her very favorites from the beginning.  Daddy was playing with it when she laughed for the first time!!  These ones are also super cute!

Rattles - obvious?  yes.  But there were so many times that the rattle in the diaper bag saved the day!  I thought this one and these wrist rattles were pretty neat!

5. A Mirror

There was a mirror on the back of our bathroom door when we moved in that we replaced (it was outdated).  I have plans to fix it up and use it elsewhere.  But it was just sitting in the closet.  She loved that mirror!  She sat and talked to the baby in the mirror for hours.  And we used it for pictures but all she would do was give the other baby kisses.  ;)  If you don't have a large mirror for baby to play with, this plastic mirror is a safe bet and is very similar to what I used in the day care scene!

Video wouldn't upload of her talking to herself.  But I still love this picture!

6. A Good Sippy Cup

Aelah refused to take a bottle.  On a whim, I got out the Nuk sippy I had gotten at a yard sale and she took to it like a pro!  We probably would have introduced it around 5 or 6 months anyways.  But it was a definite must have for us right around 4 months!

First time with a sippy...drank over an oz when Mommy stepped out of the room for just a couple seconds....

7. A Play Mat

While definitely not necessary....at all.....it was still nice to have a designated place to lay her.  And she loved the hanging toys and the tiny mirror that was attached.  :)

Pretty sure she was sitting and fell....but then she layed like this for awhile.  Too funny.

*BONUS*

A Bumbo.  To be honest, we didn't use our bumbo as much as I thought we would.  We got her one for Christmas and I was SO excited...but it was set aside much earlier than I anticipated.  I included it on the list, however, because when I worked in the day care world, bumbos were a lifesaver!   They are perfect for when baby can't quite sit on their own but hates laying down because they can't see!  Aelah did love hers...but only until we pulled out the exersaucer.  They also come in handy when feeding starts...but since we did baby led weaning, the high chair was best.  If I had spoon fed, we probably would have used this A LOT more.

This was also taken when she was 2 months. Can't believe how different she looks...

So, that's our list.

What would you add to it??

Uniquely Daddy: Zoey's Attic Daddy Gear

So far, our unique Father’s Day gifts include camping gear, a ginger beer kit, a daddy diaper bag, antiques, and a few other things.  Today, I’m bringing you an adorable idea for dads of all ages.

Matching t-shirt sets!!

From Zoey's Attic

And I'm not talking the cheesy kind...I'm talking about t-shirts that Dads will actually want to wear.  Here is our selection:

Adorable Baby!!  Love her grin here.  :)

We absolutely love this set because we can keep using it after our first baby!!  And it is easily dressed up for a little girl.

This is my favorite - black and white polka dots! 

Hubby loves this combination so much that he always wants to wear it.  Shortly after it arrived in the mail, we had friends come over.  As soon as he got home from work he changed into his shirt and made sure that I got the baby changed so he could show off.  ;)  And people really do think it's pretty cute!

And if you don't like the grey baby shirt you can also get white, light pink, or light blue.  I love having options!  

These shirts come from a pretty neat little store called Zoey's Attic.  Like a few other shops I have highlighted, this shop was started because there was a lack of unique items for babies.  With a background in graphic design, Erin new she had an opportunity on her hands.  Erin's mom gave her first daughter, Bridget a small zebra names Zoey when she was born.  Since it was a connection between all three generations, Erin used the name for her shop!  And attics, well, to quote the website, "everyone knows that there are wonderful, unexpected treasures to be found in an attic."

Here are some of our other Father's Day favorites:

Who doesn't love mustaches these days!?!  Find this set here.

This is how we stumbled across the Daddy items...since baby girl's name means "oak tree" in Hebrew, we thought this was super cute.  But Hubby really liked the "Adorable Baby" set better... Find this set here.

  

After we have a couple more kiddos, I would love to get this for my dad!  Find this set here.

But they carry more than just items for Dads!  They have all sorts of things for babies and families and much more!  There is something for everyone!

  

To Buy: Head on over to the Zoey's Attic Website and take a look around.  Right now you can use the code NOTIES for 10% off for Father's Day!

To Win: One reader will win a $35 gift code to spend on whatever they like...but don't forget - Father's Day is just around the corner!!  Use the Giveaway Tool below for your chance to win.

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Wool Diapers: Not as Scary or Difficult as You Might Think (WAHM Review + Giveaway)

If you have been in the cloth diapering community for awhile, you have probably heard of wool covers.  To be honest, I was intimidated by wool.  It requires a different wash routine and I just wasn't sure it was worth it.  And was it really able to keep pee in?  It's just cloth - no water proof/resistant layer to be found....

I received free product in exchange for an open & honest review.  No other compensation was exchanged.  All opinions are my own.

I approached Kim at Patsycake Baby to do a review of her Clover Diaper:

Super neat right?

But then she asked me if I could review a wool cover and fitted instead because it was harder to find people willing to do so.  I was really nervous but thought it might be a great chance to try something new.  So I told her that I'd never used wool and I had no idea what I was doing but that I would definitely be willing to give it a try if she would like.  And so we're here today!  :)

But let's back  track a little bit and let me tell you a little bit about Kim and her family.  They live on a small family farm....in San Diego!  I never, in a million years would have thought of a farm when thinking of San Diego.  Pretty neat.  Patsycake Baby is run from the dining room table each morning while her two children collect eggs, feed the animals, and eat veggies straight out of the garden (yum!).  Kim is a firm believer in supporting local and small business so that's where she gets all of her materials!   Now doesn't that all just do your heart good?  ;)

Precious!

Here is the super cute package that Kim sent:

Simple but cute!  Love it!

And these are the treasures that awaited me:

A Deluxe One Size Organic Sherpa Fitted Diaper

A Custom Wool Crochet Diaper Soaker Cover

So adorable, right?  I told Kim that we liked earth tones and all things natural and this is what she came up with!  I love it!

She automatically sent me instructions on how to care for my wool cover.  And I was extremely thankful - that was what I was most worried about!  Her blog has fantastic instructions for lanolizing and washing the cover.  It even includes pictures for each step.  You can find that post here.

It really is very easy.  If you have ever hand-washed anything you will be great at this!  And if you haven't hand-washed a single thing, Kim's instructions make this super simple.  In a nut shell, it goes like this: swish, rinse, swish, swish, soak, rinse, roll, and lay flat.  Just as easy as it sounds.  Yes, I'll have to refer back to the instructions the first few times, but it really is easy!

But why go through the extra steps?  Because you don't have to do it that often!!  If the wool is damp, you just let it dry between uses.  If it gets soiled, you wash it really quickly with a little bit of gentle soap.  And you only have to lanolize about once every other month!!  

The absorbency is so very worth.  This cover, along with the sherpa fitted have made it to our overnight collection.  And that is quite the accomplishment with my heavy wetting little lady.  We have been able to use this set about 8-10 times.  And it has only leaked twice, once when I didn't make sure that the fitted was tucked into the cover on her back.  And the second time, which was barely a leak, she slept extra long...about 14 hours. We usually only go 10-12 hours without a diaper change overnight.

Here they are in action:

Note the fold-down rise...that was also a first for us and another thing I love!

Cute little bum!

  
And the other features that I really love:

The fitted has an extra layer on the inside...which helps with absorbency and dry time!

The insert snaps in and is wide enough to cover the other snaps so that they never touch the baby!  And don't forget the softness of sherpa - definite plus! 

I am most definitely going to be getting myself some more fitteds and wool covers when the budget allows!!  Patsycake Baby has made me a big believer!

Check out some of the other awesome products that they carry:

Diaper Dust!  A safer, natural alternative to Baby Powder

Organic Terry Bibs

Birch Wood & Organic Cotton Teethers - we have one like this and it is one of Aelah's favorites!

Liking what you see?  Be sure to follow Patsycake Baby on your favorite social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Google +

Etsy

Blogspot

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Website

Want to give wool a try?  Kim has graciously offered to host a giveaway!  One reader will win a crocheted wool cover!

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Natural Remedy for Acid Reflux & Growth Spurts (WAHM Review + Giveaway) *CLOSED*

Our little Miss Aelah has had some interesting little quirks in her short time here already.  

First, we dealt with a moderate case of colic.  We could bank on her being awake ever night from 9 until sometimes 2 in the morning.  Crying, crying, crying...  After about 6 weeks, I started doing some research.  Since we aren't big proponents of pharmaceuticals I wanted something natural.  And the chiropractor was the answer.  We went on a Monday and it eased up...she was asleep by 11 or 12 with only a couple hours of crying.  And then we went again on Friday and she hasn't had an issue since.  Definitely recommend the chiropractor!  If you get a little squeamish at the thoughts of an infant being cracked and popped, it isn't like that at all.  It is a very gentle process.  She slept through most of the 1st appointment and smiled through the 2nd.  Not a fuss at all....

We also knew she had some acid reflux issues.  She gets hiccup-burps pretty often, which her Daddy also gets.  And, as he knows, they are painful.  She can tolerate them for a little bit, but always gets pretty fussy if they persist.

On top of that, she would have moments the past couple of months where she would just start screaming and crying like she was hurt.  It would last for 20-45 minutes and then be over with.  The first time it happened, I was crying...couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.  Nothing helped.  Not nursing, not skin-to-skin, not laying on her belly....nothing.  After doing some research, I learned that it was quite possible that she was having growing pains or that it was related to acid reflux.

I really didn't want to give her any medications, so I started doing my research again.  Amber necklaces are supposed to help with teething and we tried that when she got her shots (inflammation) and it worked like a charm!  Well, it turns out that hazelwood is supposed to do for acid reflux what amber does for teething and inflammation.

I received free product in exchange for an open & honest review.  No other compensation was given.  All opinions are my own.

Which is how I discovered Amber & Haze.  It is a beautiful little shop run by a few different work at home moms.  Emmalee - a cloth diapering, home birthing, breastfeeding (7 years straight) momma began Amber & Haze.  Because of the high quality of her products and a wonderful customer community, the business grew beyond her own capabilities.  So she has two other moms helping her out now!

I told Emmalee why I was looking for hazelwood and explained some of the other issues Aelah was dealing with.  She recommended doing hazelwood in her super calm girly style.  It also includes a few other things, like Lepidolite which, among many other things, is supposed to help with growing pains!!

This picture does not do it justice....it is SO cute!

My cutie pie!

This gives you a better peek at the colors and the Lepidolite...

The safety tension clasp is an upgrade for just $1!

We have noticed that her hiccups have subsided a little and she hasn't had any random screaming/supper fussy moments.  So I do feel like it is helping.  But since she is so small there is no way for me to really know.  But, it makes me feel better knowing I'm doing something to try and help her.  And it seems to be working!

Amber & Haze sells quite a few different types of natural jewelry and has a fantastic collection of different amber teething necklaces which you can see here.

She also carries nursing necklaces, cloth diaper safe rash cream, gum rub, and more!

Another thing to note is that all of the Amber & Haze necklaces are homemade, hand strung, and pre-stretched.  Which is apparently not the case with most sellers....even on Etsy.

Thanks for the discount code Emmalee!

As a thank you and to make sure you don't miss any of her awesome pieces follow Amber & Haze on your favorite social media:

Etsy

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

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Emmalee has also offered to give one reader a wonderful little gift set!  It will include:

• Teething Necklace
• Diaper Rash Cream (safe for cloth)
• NEW Gum Rub - they grew the main ingredient themselves (the toothache plant!).  It will also include chamomile, vanilla beans, and baltic amber.  You can get it with or without clove oil.

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Baby Gift: First Holiday Stickers

I'm a big fan of firsts.  And I think they should be celebrated appropriately!  :)

Yes, I am already planning Miss Aelah's 1st birthday part.  But that's for another day...

Today, we're talkin' holidays!  And today is Aelah's very first Groundhog's Day!!  Wooo-hoooo!!  Big deal right?  haha.  Well, I might be stepping on a land-mine since we live just 30 minutes from the actual groundhog but I could really skip this holiday and not care.  :P

However, I got these gorgeous first holiday stickers from ICustomLabel and they actually included Groundhog's Day - which, admittedly, I thought was kind of cute.  And it gave me an excuse to have a fun photo shoot with Little Miss.

She's only happy because she has no clue what 6 more weeks of winter means.....

I absolutely love these stickers!!  I have similar ones for each month (1 month, 2 months, etc.) that we were given when Aelah was born...but they are kind of stiff.  I tried wearing one all day long, but it just got caught on everything and kept falling off.  They are made for photo shoots (which is awesome!) but they aren't great for wearing more than an hour or so.  The ICustomLabel stickers are perfect for wearing for longer periods!  Which is super fun!  That means we can wear them to church, to the store, to a friend's house, wherever we might be headed during Baby Girl's first holidays!!  However, since they are just thin stickers, they do show the wear:

This was taken about half way through the day when we had to make an outfit change.  Definitely won't be using it again....

They are bright, colorful, and super fun!  I especially like the Father's Day one - a mustache!!  hehe.

New Year's, Groundhog's Day,
Valentine's Day, St. Patty's Day

Easter, Mom's Day,
Dad's Day, Birthday

4th of July, Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Christmas

I was a little bummed that we didn't have these for the major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.).  But...I got to thinkin' - I still love scrapbooking old school style (yep, that's right...with paper, not on shutterfly).  The stickers I didn't get a chance to use for pictures can most definitely be used in a scrapbook!!  Yeah!

The best part??  You can get a set of these stickers for only $10 here!  These would make a tremendous gift for a baby shower or other baby gift!

What's your favorite first holiday with baby??