Nellie's Naturals: Oxy Brightener and Dryer Ball Review & Giveaway

There are a lot of chores I hate, vacuuming, dusting and cleaning in general all make the list.  Laundry, however, I don't particularly mind, especially since we bought high efficiency, front-loading washers.  Our machine can do huge loads and the dryer can keep up, which any Mom will surely tell you is uber important.  Who has time to wait around for an extra cycle, or even an extra ten minutes, when there's another load waiting to dry?

As I told you back in July, when it comes to detergent, I'm all about Nellie's All Natural Washing Soda, it keeps our clothes clean and fresh without any unnecessary fillers, fragrance or other skin irritants.

It was with great confidence that I tried out Nellie's All Natural Oxy Brightener, Dryer Balls & fragrance sticks, which were provided to me, by the fine people at Nellie's, for the purposes of this review.  Nellie's Oxy Brightener is a chlorine-free, colour-safe, septic-safe and environmentally friendly product that releases a boost of oxygen to bleach stains, boost cleaning power and brighten both colours and whites.

I must admit, I didn't perform a side-by-side washing with/without Nellie's Oxy Brightener, but the food, snot and other toddler deliciousness stuck to the boys clothes disappeared easily with the addition of half a scoop of oxy brightner in the machine.  It worked wonderfully as a pre-soak for a stinky dirty wet bag and did an amazing job on cat barf on the carpet when diluted with water in a spray bottle.

As a stain remover, the Oxy Brightener did require a little bit of extra effort, in that I needed to dry up the solution, then dab the area with some water before drying up the carpet a second time.  But, it worked and I knew I wasn't leaving a little wet chemical spot on my floor for the boy to find, so its a winner in my books.

I also had a chance to test out Nellie's Dryer Balls.  I have been using dryer balls for a long time and to date the first set I had has by far lasted the longest.  That first set were Nellie's original dryer balls; Nellie's is now on to their second generation of dryer balls.  The new green dryer ball now allow for the insertion of an optional fragrance stick infused with essential oils to make your laundry smell pretty (something that has never been an option for me before).

The use of Dryer Balls means there is absolutley no need for those stinky, chemical-filled dryer sheets that I see in the drugstore.  I've never been able to use them, they have made my skin crawl since a very young age.  Nellie's Dryer Balls will fluff up your laundry naturally, help reduce static and reduce drying time by 15-25%.  Nellie's is so sure you'll love them that they offer a money back guarantee and a two-year warranty on their Dryer Balls, that's standing behind a product if you ask me.

As for the fragrance stick, I had a chance to try out the Citrus scent; I'm not a huge fan of citrus and wasn't sure how the boy and I would react to the additional fragrance so I started out by only adding a stick to one dryer ball.  I was amazed when I opened my dryer door and was greeted with a mild, enjoyable scent.  I didn't find my clothes 'smelled' when I wore them, but rather just smelled fresh when they came out of the wash (is that what you all love about dryer sheets?).  We had no skin reactions and have now moved up to two fragrance sticks (one per Dryer Ball) in our dryer.

If you want to find out more details about Nellie's products, check out their FAQ page.

I think that I've found some great additions to our laundry routine in Nellie's Oxy Brightener, Dryer Ball and Fragrance Sticks, all great Canadian products that I rate a 5/5!  Want to try Nellie's out for yourself?  We are giving away TWO 50 load bags of Laundry Soda to Momma Stuff Blog Readers.

Enter To Win:

A free load bag of Nellie's Laundry Soda
(two to be awarded)

The First Entry is mandatory; all other entries will be disqualified if it is not included.  Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  

First Entry:
Check out the Nellie's Website and tell us what product you would like to try

Additional Entries:
 Follow the Momma Stuff Blog via Google Friend Connect (left sidebar)
Like the Momma Stuff Blog on Facebook
Follow the Momma Stuff Blog on Twitter

  Tweet this giveaway (once per day - leave a link) 
#Giveaway of Nellie's Natural Washing Soda @mommastuffblog #CMTT http://bit.ly/dbuXnJ 

Giveaway closes Sunday October 10th at 8pm.  Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.

Contest now closed - Congratulations to our winner, comment #21 Lindsey & #3 Sarah

pediped® footwear review

We have received many pairs of shoes for the boy, some new and many used but I have only bought three pairs.  All three pairs have been worn daily until they were outgrown and all three pairs were pediped^® footwear.  I did a lot of research before I bought the boy his first shoes, I wanted something soft and natural, not restricting around the ankle but still durable, supportive and well-made.

Pediped^® footwear has three collections 'The Originals', 'flex' and 'couture'.  We have only tried out the Originals, but they have definitely met my expectations.  Given the track record, our next shoe purchase will definitely be a pair of pediped flex.  Pediped Originals are a soft leather soled shoes that resemble the shape of the foot.  Without the thick rubber sole I didn't have to worry about the boy tripping as he learned to walk, or even when he was crawling.  The elastic faux laces, velcro and generous width all make it super easy to fit the shoes onto the boys feet.

The sole itself feels smooth, but despite my concerns, they truly are slip-resistant, I found that when the boy was just gaining his balance, he actually seemed to be more stable with his pediped^® footwear on.  Now that he is walking, running even, I'm happy to report that I have yet to see him slip as a result of his shoes.  And even though he has been wearing his current pair of pediped footwear during his foray into walking over the past two months, the soles show no sign of wear despite their regular use outdoors.

Most importantly the boy seems comfortable in his pediped^® footwear, he has never really pulled or tugged on his shoes (until his recent obsession with velcro) and he rarely, if ever, fights us when its time to put them on.  In fact I sent the boy to my Mom house the other day wearing some second hand sandals that were a bit cooler, but he still came back home in his pediped footwear.  My Mom informed me he was much more comfy in his Brady pediped^® sandals.

I love that the inside of the shoes feels cushy, like memory foam.  I remember my delight the first time I stuck my fingers in his sweaty little shoes and could feel the boys toe indentations.  He had just learned to pull himself at the time and as I ran my fingers over the grooves in his shoes, I relished in the moment hoping to keep the memory with me forever.

In addition to all of the other great features, pediped footwear is podiatrist recommended, and reasonably priced for the quality of the product.  Did I mention they come in tons of adorable styles and are super cute?  If I had a little girl I would definitely have more trouble buying only one pair per size.  We love pediped^® footwear at our house, and I truly have no complaints; in my eyes, an absolute 5/5!

Kidopotomus Tiny Diner Placemat

I was at a birthday party when my friend tossed me the Kidopotomus Tiny Diner and told me I should review it.  I didn't really get it at first, this rolled up piece of silicone* was supposed to help me how?  Upon closer investigation, I started to see the potential.  The placemat spreads out in front of your child and is firmly secured in place with a number of small suction cups (which work great without any wetting).  There is also a scoop that sits just over the edge of the table to catch food.  Surprisingly, both of these features work, quite well in fact.

When eating out, there is a clear relationship between the amount of tip we leave and the amount of mess the boy leaves under the table.  So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw very little mess under the the boys chair the the first time we tested out the TinyDiner.  The pieces he intentionally dropped were obviously on the ground, but the pieces that slip off the table or fall out of the his hands or mouth, most of those were caught in the scoop.

The TinyDiner is easy to clean (my friend even throws hers in the top rack of the dishwasher) and is lead, PVC, BPA, Phalate and latex free.  It's easy to take with you; it rolls up and fits into the scoop leaving you with a tube slightly larger than a paper towel roll that's easy to pop into the diaper bags.  The fold-out flap design also means that extra bits of food are safely folded and rolled into the tube until you get home to clean up.

I really like that I get to take the mess with me, rather than leaving smeared and squished food for the restaurant staff to cleanup. It also gives me some security about the cleanliness of what we're eating off of; Iin particular, I'm thinking of eating in a park or some sort of public space such as a mall food fair.

The first time we tried out the TinyDiner, we had three babies and three Momma's and the TinyDiner worked great for everyone.  For under $15 the TinyDiner is great product for eating on the go; its small, compact, easy to use and easy to clean.  I have no complaints and rate it a 5/5!
 
*I think the mat is made with silicone, but the packaging is long gone and the website doesn't specify.

Agoo Leg Huggers Review & Giveaway

I reviewed the Agoo Playful Pant and Twozie a little while back; two of my favourite items in the boys wardrobe.  Now I would like to add to the list the Agoo Leg Huggers, graciously provided to me by the fine people at Agoo for the purposes of this review.

There are a lot of different brands of childrens leg warmers, and if you shop on Etsy, your options multiply dramatically. If your crafty you might even want to try making your own; but don't trust the pattern and buy ankle socks unless your making leg warmers for a brand new infant.  I learned that lesson the hard way.

What's different about Agoo Leg Huggers is that they are made with 100% sustainable bamboo that is wick-away, non-irritating, anti-bacterial and odour resistant.  These are important features for me, the boy has sensitive skin and eczema, so breathability is important.  Agoo Leg Huggers are also oh-so-soft and the fabric has a pretty (though not girlie) sheen to it. 

The boy doesn't walk yet, but he is a master crawler, so we put Agoo Leg Huggers to the test as he roamed the house including crawling up and down the stairs.  I'm happy to report, the elastic is strong and the Leg Huggers stayed put, all without leaving the telltale red marks on the boys thighs.  Leg Huggers are one size fits all, and they are quite long.  I'm confident they would fit even an older toddler quite easily. 

Aesthetically, Agoo has a lot of cute patterns, including some great ones for the boys, which can sometimes be a challenge.  We tested out the racer argyle, but I also liked the Army friends pattern.  Our Leg Huggers maintained their shape through the washer and dryer, though there was a slight fuzzing of the fabric, but it truly only added to the softness.

The boy isn't potty training yet, but I can easily see how Leg Huggers would be a great alternative to pants with a potty training toddler - I have a feeling when the time comes at our house, Leg Huggers will become a wardrobe staple, even if the hubs does start singing Flash Dance.  At only $10.00 a pair, Eco-Friendly Leg Huggers are not only comprable, they are cheaper than many other leg warmer brands.

And I'm very excited to see that right now, Agoo is working with "Helping Orphans Worldwide" (HOW); for every pair of Leg Huggers or Socks sold, Agoo will send one pair to Orphans in Vietnam.  Seriously, how can you feel bad about that.  Kudos to you Agoo!  This also applies to the coupon code offer below!!

Agoo Leg Huggers are made with sustainable fabrics at an affordable price, they performed well and kept the boy warm and protected as he crawled around the house.  Definitley a product I would purchase and recommend.  A true 5/5!

Wanna win your own pair?  Agoo Apparel is providing one lucky reader with their own pair of Leg Huggers in the pattern of their choice.  They have also provided a Leg Huggers Coupon Code good this weekend only!  Buy 2 pairs of Leg Huggers and get the third pair for 1 cent!  And don't forget your purchase will also get an orphaned child in Vietnam a pair of leg huggers to keep them warm and cozy!!

Coupon Code:
Buy 2 pairs of Leg Huggers and get 1 for a penny!
To get YOUR third pair of Leg Huggers for one cent,
enter code 1fb4m at checkout! 

Enter To Win:
One pair of Agoo Leg Huggers in the pattern of your choice. 

The First Entry is mandatory; all other entries will be disqualified if it is not included.  Please leave a separate comment for each entry, seven chances to win total.  

First Entry: Visit the Agoo Leg Hugger website, take a look around and tell us what Leg Hugger pattern you would choose if you won.

Second Entry: Follow The Momma Stuff Blog through Google(left sidebar)

Third Entry:  Like Agoo on Facebook

Fourth Entry: Like the Momma Stuff Blog on Facebook

Fifth Entry: Follow Agoo on Twitter

Sixth Entry:Follow Leg Huggers on Twitter

Seventh Entry: Follow the Momma Stuff Blog on Twitter

Giveaway closes Sunday May 16 at 8pm.  Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.

This contest is closed.
Congrats to our winner!

Stonz Booties - Review & Coupon

With Spring just around the corner, you only have to glance in a store window, or browse your favourite online shops to see that retailers are bringing out the cute little sandals, shorts and tee-shirts, convincing us that hot, lazy days will be upon us shortly.  I live in Vancouver, BC and although the sun shone for the Olympics, we get a lot of rain here.  Seriously, a lot of rain.  I personally don't plan on picking up sandals for the boy anytime soon.

What I did pick up recently [ok I admit it, I ordered them online] is a pair of Stonz Booties for the boy. Stonz Wear is a local company, created by mothers, for mothers.  Stonz Booties are water and wind resistant, fleece lined with a skid resistant sole and machine washable.  My son doesn't walk on his own yet, so what that really means is that when I'm helping him walk across the backyard, or park I know that his little feet are warm and dry and its pretty unlikely that he's going to lose his footing.
 
What's particularly great about Stonz Booties is the wide circumference of the bootie; it doesn't narrow down much at the ankle.  I admit that I initially thought this feature made the booties ugly, but practicality quickly took over when I realized just how much easier the wide opening made it to slip my son's flailing foot into the bootie.  The two toggle system (one around the ankle, one at the top of the bootie) allows Momma (or Daddy or Gramma or Aunty...) to quickly tighten and secure the booties while ensuring a nice snug fit for your little one.  These boots are staying put!

As booties, they of course come midway up the calf and combined with the snug fit of the toggles, Stonz booties keep my son's legs protected from the elements even when he is crawling like crazy, exploring grass, rocks and everything that is nature. They also keep his legs covered while in the baby carrier, and they are much quicker to put on than babylegs - my old solution to bare legs in the carrier.

Stonz Booties come in sizes small through extra-large and are designed to fit little ones from newborn through three years.  The extra-large size is a fairly new addition to the line and not all sizes are available in the larger sizes.  That being said, Stonz bootie sizing is generous; I have a size large intended for children aged one to two and a half and at this point they fit great with shoes on.  That's right, I just slip his feet, shoes and all, into the booties when its time to go outside.  I have had absolutley no problems fitting the shoes into the booties, or having his feet slip around inside the booties.  By buying the larger size and wearing them with shoes now, and without later, I figure I am maximizing the boy's wear and spreading my dollar a little farther. 

At a price of $46.95 CDN a pair, it seems worthwhile to purchase Stonz Booties early and ensure your little one wears them lots.  They are well constructed, sturdy and absolutley worth the price.  I am very happy with my sons' Stonz booties, he wears them in the backyard, in the park or even in the stroller on particularly wet and windy days.  Truly, I have no complaints about Stonz Booties and give them a 5/5!

Coupon Code:
Since the people at Stonz Wear are totally awesome, they are offering readers of The Momma Stuff Blog an opportunity to save 10% on their purchase if they order between now and April 19.  Keep in mind this discount applies to your entire order, so be sure to check out the Linerz, Hatz and Mittz as well as the Booties!  To get your discount, type in promo code mommastuff when you checkout!

Special thanks to Stonz for providing The Momma Stuff Blog with our very first promo code!

WYSI Wipes

I recently took my son, who was eight months at the time, on an international trip to China, Hong Kong and Thailand. For someone who does their best to be eco-conscious in their purchases and actions, traveling with an infant can pose some challenges at best.

At home we use cloth diaper service, and I wash small cloths instead of using disposable wipes all the time. We sometimes use the disposable wipes, but no one can do everything all the time. I struggled a little bit with face wipes. Its just a fact of life that after a baby eats he or she, needs their face wiped.

Although my wipes of choice are natural and and alcohol-free, I still felt some hesitation about wiping my sons face with them. He has very sensitive skin and is prone to rash and eczema so the thought of using wipes on his face multiple times a day, didn't seem like the best idea.

Enter Wysi Wipes these small, light, compressed wipes expand with just a small amount of water, are soft, natural and biodegradable. They fit perfectly in the cap of a water bottle to be moistened, and store in a film canister or old medication bottle to take with you on the go. When warm water is on hand, my son liked it better when I wiped his face, but hey travellers can't be choosy right?

When visiting our family rural village, we also used Wysi Wipes as a washcloth in the baby's bath. The wipe does start to soften and rip from continual use, they really are only single-use items, but they did the trick.

At about $0.12 a wipe (if you buy the 100 pack) these are great for in your purse, diaper bag, car or backpack. I still have extras after three weeks of travelling with the baby and not only do I keep some in my bag, I pass a few on to Momma's I know all the time.

You can also use the wipes with a little bit of natural cleaner for a natural cleaning cloth or really whatever else you can think of. I only use them for wiping my baby's face, but there truly are a ton of potential uses.

WYSI WIPES are a great product, they are compact, functional and for something that is disposable, they are biodegradable and free of chemicals (a plus in my books). I give WYSI WIPES a 5/5 a great product to have in your bag for emergencies, meals out or travelling.