One great way to save resources and enjoy quality time with those you love is through a family game night.  My husband and I enjoyed playing games together when we dated, and now that we have children, we love to include them too.  Games that are great for all ages are especially important to us, as I’m sure they are for many of you too!

Banangrams is a fun game for all ages that grew from a love of fun, family and word games.  The company has since created many more games all with the same quality and features in mind – simple, useful packaging and great fun for the whole family!  They kindly sent my family a few games to try out, and they want to give you an opportunity at the same! (We’ll get to that in a minute!)

From the moment the games arrived, my kids loved them, my seven year old especially loves the word games, but they all love Fruitominoes!  Fruitominoes is a fun, colorful twist on the classic game of dominoes.  I love that the game uses fruit to make it fun, colorful and easy for the kids to understand, while sending a good message at the same time (I am so tired of seeing fast-food on toys!).  My kids even like to use the Fruitominoes to make fun designs and towers.  I love watching their imaginations go wild! In addition to Fruitominoes we got the chance to try out Zip-It and Bananagrams, both are fun word word games that come neatly packaged in a great cloth carrying cases!  The Bananagram line of games run from about $10-15 on Amazon, making them not only perfect for the whole family, but a great buy too!

One of you has the awesome chance of winning a set of games to enjoy with your family.  Good luck, and many thanks to Banangrams for the fun and memories, and those still to come!

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Thirsties, a company that I simply adore, is thanking moms for all they do with their Thirsties Thanking Moms Sweepstakes.

I just love Thirsties and I am so excited to be one of the blogs sponsoring this event!

Did you know that all Thirsties products are made in the USA by a talented group of women, many of whom work from home.  Thirsties chooses to use only the best USA-sourced components for their products.  They do this not only to ensure that their products are of the best quality and will last, but also to reduce their carbon footprint and support the local economy and domestic textile industry.  In addition to being a great company on paper, I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the staff at the ABC Kids Expo, and it was one of my favorite stops!  I had a blast chatting about the new products and it was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the people behind the brand – I was not disappointed!

To celebrate the ‘Love of Moms’, Thirsties has teamed up with several great sponsors to put together a prize package worth over $600!  It includes prizes from Thirsties, Bamboobies Breastfeeding Supplies, Motherlove Herbal Products, and a Boba Carrier.

There are several amazing cloth diapering bloggers joining in to show you how much they appreciate you and your dedication to cloth diapering your baby.  Be sure to show them all some love – they are a great group of bloggers and I am so thankful to be taking part in this event.

• The Eco Chic
• Dirty Diaper Laundry
• Cloth Diaper Geek
• Change-Diapers.com
• All About Cloth Diapers
• The Cloth Diaper Report
• Padded Tush Stats
• Between the Kids

If you are new to cloth and want to know more, I suggest checking out my Cloth Diaper FAQ. It’s a great place to start!

To enter the sweepstakes, visit the Thirsties Facebook page and click on the  Thirsties Thanking Moms Sweepstakes tab.  Be sure to check back EVERYDAY to enter.  You can receive entries by ‘liking’ sponsor pages PLUS 3 extra entries for sharing the sweepstakes with your friends and family.

Thirsties thanks you for your support!  Good luck!

 *** Enter The Thirsties Thanking Moms Sweepstakes Here! ***

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Thirsties and not to Facebook. By participating in this promotion you agree to a complete release of Facebook from any claims. Participation in this promotion is subject to the official rules.Similar Posts:

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For starters, let’s throw out the “Are you mom enough?”  This is clearly offensive and reaction provoking. I don’t rank mothers based on a checklist of “they do this” and “they don’t do that”.  That is ridiculous and this headline does nothing to promote the photo depicted. It provokes the wrong emotions and encourages “mompetition”, which is so rediciously counterprodctive – because at the end of the day, don’t we all just want to be doing our personal best?  Lord knows we all mess up.  I wish I could say I was a perfect parent, but I’m not!  I have three children and I just hope that I get them to adulthood without ruining them! (Okay maybe my goals aren’t quite that simple, but you know what I mean!)  There is no need for competition and judgement, though I suppose that’s a topic all to itself.  Perhaps another day.

Despite my feelings on the cover title, what I dislike more than that is the sentence below it –  ”Why attachment parenting drives some mothers to extremes – and how Dr. Bill Sears became their guru.”

That pisses me off. 

Extremes.  I nursed all three of my children, and my youngest nursed past two.  Even if she had wanted to nurse longer (though I was so ready for her to be done!) I would have, and I wouldn’t have considered extreme in the least.

The fact that mainstream ideas want to pin mothers into corners by calling them “extreme” for parenting based on instincts and the natural progession of infancy and toddlerhood enrages me and saddens me.

Who says what is extreme? I don’t remember anyone asking me.  Is that on the ballot this year?

The focus of mainstream perceptions is what brings me back around to another thought about this cover.  Wipe the words away, and it is beautiful.  The mother is a beautiful, petite woman with lovely features and looks like she just got out of that yoga class I wish I took. Her son is healthy breastfed boy who is enjoying the benefits of attachment parenting. This is beautiful, as are the other amazing photos from this shoot.

What are your thoughts on this cover? Do you think this is good for breastfeeding? Do you think it has set it back? I would love to hear your thoughts.Similar Posts:

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A friend shared this with me and I thought that many of you would enjoy it too.  The Kindle version of Basic Soap Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started is free!

Don’t have a Kindle?  You can read it on your computer with the Kindle program, or on your smartphone with the Kindle App.

I haven’t read this yet, but I just downloaded it and am looking forward to it!

From the description:
Written by soap maker, Patsy Buck, this book features hundreds of step-by-step, full-color photographs that illustrate exactly how to make cold-process soap. It contains instructions on molding soap, cutting bars, creating original recipes, packaging gifts, and more. It includes a chapter on constructing a soap mold, liner, and cutter at home. Readers will learn the basic four-oil soap recipe, which can then be enhanced with additives such as oatmeal, fragrance oils, colored swirls, two-tone nuggets, and moisturizing butters.

If you use this to make soap, I’d love to hear how it turns out!Similar Posts:

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I first introduced you to Maxwell Designs nearly three years ago. While the styles have changed, the quality remains and the selection now includes designer purses and accessories. They would make for beautiful gifts, and don’t forget that Mother’s Day is coming up! I have had the pleasure of knowing Maggie, the owner, for some time now and am excited to be sharing her products with you.

I have owned many cosmetic bags in my days, but none as nice as the one sent to me by Maxwell Designs. The stitching and attention to detail is flawless – I even love the tag! Maxwell Designs products are created using high quality fabrics and these bags are no different. They also include a wipeable, waterproof liner and wristlet strap for easy carrying – making it ideal for use as a mini-purse when you don’t need to carry a lot.  I know that I am excited to have it to use at BlogHer this year. There will be plenty of room for my room key, business cards, cell phone, and a few misc. items. Not to mention, I am in love with this beautiful charcoal grey floral print.

Maxwell Designs is a family run business based in Langley, B.C, Canada. Through listening to customers needs and wants, they have created a products that are not only multi-functional but stylish and practical too. Providing exceptional customer service is a top priority for Maxwell Designs, and I know that you’ll love their products and company as much as I do.

Update: I am so in love with this little bag!  It makes the perfect travel companion and fits my smartphone, wallet and lip balm with a little room to spare!  Check out the action pic from our bike ride last weekend.

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Screen-Free Week is here and if you haven’t joined in yet, you still can!  Screen-Free Week is an annual celebration where participants turn of their screens and enjoy all else that life has to offer – reading, exploring, enjoying nature, spending time with loved ones or just daydreaming.  It might seem nuts to turn off the screens for a week but it’s about more than that.  It’s about creating balance and improving your quality of life all year long.

I have to admit, that I won’t be able to just turn off for a whole week.  I can’t imagine how far behind I would become, and very quickly, but what I can do is limit my screen time and make more time to spend time outdoors or playing games with my kids (*hint* of something to come this week!).  I encourage you to join in this week. If you can turn off completely, that rocks!  If not, don’t count yourself out – just do what you can.  It’s all about making your life better, so why not?!

I am excited to take the kids to the park and go biking with my husband.  I make it to the park with the kids as often as I can, but always wish it was more and I have been dying to go biking for years.  I look forward to making the most of this week, and those to come!

What do you look forward to doing the most, or what activities do you miss doing that you’d like to try this week?Similar Posts:

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With my recent posts on cups, I have seen the same questions many times – one of which is “What cup should I buy?”  You want to know that you are buying the right cup for you, and to be honest, it’s not a perfect science – but you can make an educated guess.  Chances are, you’ll love your cup!

When I was first considering a cup, I chose based on the only cup that I had heard of – The Diva Cup.  I was very pleased with my cup and it worked great for me.  I have since tried three other cups (from Lunette & MCUK) and all but one cup worked perfectly for me.  When choosing your cup, keep in mind that they are all similar, so there is no need to over analyze. Choose your cups with the tips below in mind and chances are you’ll love your cup.

Consider the diameter you need and the length you want and buy from there.   If you know how your cervix sits (low or high), that might play a role in the cup you choose.  I find that a shorter cup is my preference, but I also know many women that prefer a longer cup either for a higher cervix or because they can be easier to reach.  Along these lines is the stem.  For me, the stem isn’t an issue since I cut them off anyhow, but for you it may be, so keep that in mind too.

Another thing to consider is flow.  Many women think that they have a super flow, but in reality the average woman has a moderate flow with studies showing a range from 30-120 ml (or 2-8 tablespoons).  I personally know women who have a “heavy flow” and love their cup – so if that’s your flow, a cup can work for you!  I suggest choosing a cup with a higher capacity, though like many women you may find that a cup lightens your flow.

The table below is a size comparison for several brands of cups, the first set are brands that I have personally used.  The cups below are all made from silicone, with the exception of the Keeper (which has been noted). These cups range in price from about $20 – $40 – and they are well worth it!

These cups in the table above have been reviewed by me.

These cups in the table above have not been reviewed by me.

Don’t see the brand you were looking for?  If I was unable to find a store that shipped to the US, the cup was omitted from this list.  If you know of a shop, I would be happy to add it to this list.  Please leave a comment or email me.Similar Posts:

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I have mad love for my cup (hello freedom!), so when I had the opportunity to try a cup from Lunette I was excited.  I love my cup for the convenience, comfort and health benefits, but women come in all different shapes and sizes so not every cup will work for every woman and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try other types so that I can speak about them from experience. (Special thanks to Lunette!)

My experience with the Lunette Menstrual Cup reaffirmed for me that not every cup works for every body. This is a bummer because, “What if I buy a cup that doesn’t work for my body?” – that would be seriously unfortunate, but it also means that if you tried a cup that didn’t work for you, there is still hope because there is likely a cup that will.  Check out the video below for a quick size/shape comparison using the Lunette Menstrual Cup in model 1 and model 2.

The Lunette Cup fit well and was very comfortable in both sizes, however I find that I always end up cutting the stems from my cups.  If you have found that this annoyance keeps you from loving your cup – chop that baby off!  I don’t use the antenna to remove the cup anyhow, so for me, it’s just a convenience to have it removed and you may find that the same is true for you.

If the idea of a cup is new to you, I suggest entering to win below and then checking out my other posts on reusable feminine hygiene products for more information.

Lunette USA via Green Team Distribution/Kelly Wels would love for you to try the Lunette Cup and now is your chance! I know you’ll love it, and be sure to check out Happy Cotton Tails, an authorized retailer of the Lunette Cup.

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If you haven’t heard yet, the BBC Home Entertainment‘s Frozen Planet is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray!  Frozen Planet is an original 7-part series narrated by world-renouned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, including over 90 minutes of footage not shown on television, plus more than four hours of bonus materials!

From penguins to polar bears and bison to starfish, Frozen Planet takes you an a breathtaking journey of all off the beauty, tragedy and power that our frozen regions have to offer.  As executive producer Alastair Fothergill put it, “It’s a part of the world where human beings feel very, very small in the presence of nature.”  Imagine yourself there and soak in the magnitude of this great world that we have the privileged of being a part of.   The Arctic and Antarctic are amazing places on our Earth – the scale of their beauty and power unmatched.

• A male elephant seal can weigh up to 6,600 pounds — about six times the size of a female.
• Scientists estimate there are between 20,000 and 25,000 polar bears worldwide. The global population of brown bears is roughly 10 times that, with nearly 200,000 in existence.
• 50% of Antartica’s surface area melts away each summer when surrounding sea ice recedes
• Newborn polar bear cups weigh only 1lb at birth.
• The Arctic is warming 2x faster than the rest of the world.
• The Arctic ice has nearly halved in thickness since 1980.

If you haven’t seen this film yet, you must.  To get you started, BBC Home Entertainment has offered up two amazing prize packages for me to offer!  I am so excited to have the opportunity to share them with you.

Grand Prize

• Planet Earth Limited Edition Globe
• Frozen Planet
• Blue Planet 
• Theatrical Poster for Frozen Planet

Runner Up

• BBC Natural History Collection

Enter below for your chance to win!

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If you are here, you love your cloth, which rocks!  You likely know that cloth is on the rise, we are in a serous boom – revolution – movement – yea it’s big!  We have momentum and great products and brands at our back and now it’s our turn to help carry it further.

• Reach out!  Talk to anyone interested, take your cutie to the park in a t-shirt and diaper to get the conversation going.  You never know who might take an interest!  If you get enough interest, consider having some friends over for a play date and you can discuss it further!
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• Support businesses that focus on cloth diapers!  Sites like Kelly’s Closet have a strong focus on cloth, but they also sell products like The Diva Cup, nursing pads, reusable snack bags, body washes and more.  By supporting businesses like theirs you can help them continue to be an outlet for cloth diapers too.  Use code REALSIMPLE to get a free all-in-one cloth diaper when you spend $65+ *excludes the purchase of gift certificates.
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• Follow your favorite advocates on Facebook and share! (Be sure to check out some of the blogs from this event!) When you share a post you are telling the blogger that you like what they are doing and you are helping your friends and family by putting information in front of them.  Even if they don’t click, it is becoming a part of their unconscious thoughts and that’s a step.  Subliminal marketing works for a reason, right?!
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• For more ideas, check out the posts today on the Real Cloth Diaper Week Blog hop!  As part of Real Cloth Diaper Week, Calley, The Eco Chic is hosting a fantastic blogging event which is getting bloggers motivated and talking about some of the great and important aspects of cloth diapering and cloth diapering advocacy.  Be sure to head over to her blog every day this week for a new post and check out the linky at the bottom for articles (every day!) from great bloggers like Kim from Dirty Diaper Laundry, Courtney from Simple City Life, Lindsey from So Easy Being Green and so many more!
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What is your favorite way to share cloth?

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