CSN Stores {CLOSED}

If you've been reading here for awhile, you've heard me mention CSN Stores. They have over 200 stores and sell dining tables, cribs, kids outdoor tables, etc... Awhile back, I mentioned that we were going to get to review something from CSN Stores. It was a bit of a debate as to what to get and then I won a CSN Stores gift certificate at Jessie's Ramblings. Since J has been sleeping with either my mom and dad or myself since his leukemia diagnosis in 2007, we thought a crib would be a great idea. We bought a Dream On Me Classic 2-in-1 Convertible Crib in Espresso and crib sheets from the  Bedtime Originals collection.

After placing the order at CSN Stores, we received confirmation emails and estimated shipping dates. The crib arrived several days before the email stated that it would get here. It was relatively easy to put together. But I'd recommend not trying to put it together yourself with a 'helpful' little person. :-) When we ordered the sheets, I noticed that they were back-ordered and the next day got an email saying the sheets would be shipped as soon as they were back instock. I was pleasantly surprised when they got here much earlier than I was anticipating.

The only thing about the crib that I didn't like, is how quickly the plastic wheels broke. But that was caused by J standing up in the crib and then throwing himself down onto his pillow. Two wheels broke and we took the other two off.
As for the sheets, I'm very pleased. Even though J's diaper has leaked at night, there's been no stains after washing it and the fit is excellent over his sheepskin cover (which is the only way we can get him to sleep in his crib... he likes soft beds, lol!)

Would you like to have a shopping spree at CSN Stores? Caitlin at CSN Stores has offered one (1) reader of Happily Southern a $40 gift certificate to spend at CSN Stores.

Mandatory: Visit CSN Stores and tell me which dining table you like.

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"Enjoy a shopping spree at CSN Stores. Win a $40 gift certificate at

@HappyReviews Ends 11/4 http://bit.ly/96s7lb"

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This contest is open to US and Canada and ends November 4th at 11:59 EDT. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email as well as announced on Happily Southern. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen and notified.
 

A big THANK YOU to CSN Stores for providing the giveaway items! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

Fluffdom Express: Bouncing Woolies {CLOSED}

 

I'm excited to bring you the very last review and giveaway in the Fluffdom Express event. There is still posts to be written with diaper measurements, but I'll get them up... eventually.

Shauna is the creator and owner of Bouncing Woolies. She makes 100% natural wool handmade scented or non-scented wool dryer balls. And you can have your choice of Bare Natural (scented or non-scented, of course), Color Expressions, FUNKtastic, and three limited editions, Frosty's Special, Holiday Special, and Naughty or Nice Special.

We got Bare Natural, non-scented. They arrived beautifully packaged and I got pictures of it. Sadly, that night as I was uploading picures to the computer, I lost them all. There was a little green sheep tag on the bag, that said non-scented. I was amazed at how nice the balls looked. A person-who-shall-remain-nameless was amazed that they couldn't see the other end of the yarn. And picked at it some, but still didn't find the end. It latter came loose while in the dryer and we rolled it back and felted it again. The other ball is still wound very nicely and hasn't come apart.

I've noticed a decrease in how long it takes to dry clothes and diapers. Usually it takes between 80-100 minutes for a load of 22 diapers or so. Even with 2 Bouncing Woolies, it cut the time down to 60 minutes!!!

My little ball snatcher. 
J was helping put a load of towels in the dryer and a bit later, I noticed that he was playing with the Bouncing Woolies that were already in the dryer when we put the towels in. He stopped the dryer, after I left the room and dug through the towels to find his "mahs". He still insists that they're "my".

Shauna has offered one (1) reader 2 FUNKtastic Wool Dryer Balls in the scent of their choice.

 

A big THANK YOU to Bouncing Woolies for providing the giveaway items! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

***Giveaway CLOSED***

winner: Shannon (CMo3) 

Fluffdom Express: Charlie Banana {CLOSED}

Charlie Banana - The one diaper that has it all... okay, except for aplix tabs. But as long as the snaps don't get stuck in the dryer, I don't mind! {smile}

Charlie Banana Size Diaper Is Hybrid. 

While traveling, or for any occasional situation the ability to us a disposable insert is sometime necessary. You now have both options. When using Charlie Banana you can use reusable insert or disposable ones. Of course we recommend that you use the reusable inserts most of the time.

They have a One Sized diaper as well as sized ones: XSmall, Small, Medium and Large. Great colors and prints and attractive packaging. Of course, the fact that they also have a sizing guide on their packages for sized diapers is an added attraction!

Charlie Banana is a pocket diaper with the opening in the front. The one-size diaper have elastic that is adjusted with little buttons. On the largest setting for the elastic, the OS diaper fits J well. I asked a friend who also cloth diapers to try a OS on her 15 month old little girl. It fit very well on her, although it was a bit bulky with 2 inserts. She didn't have any leaks except for once when the insert rolled to one side.

There is wider elastic in the back and in the legs, which has been wonderful for keeping messes in. The other thing that is different about the Charlie Banana sized diapers is the three snaps on the tab and an extra snap to cross over for those skinny waisted toddlers. The Charlie Banana inserts also seem to be much more absorbent than our other microfiber inserts.
Another bonus is Charlie Banana makes and sells disposable inserts. These work great for protecting the diapers from any non-cloth-diaper-friendly cream. And for traveling since these are inserts. They're also very absorbent, even with just one.

Their color choices are fantastic also. They have your basic colors including black and they're adding in some prints which are adorable. I'm very excited about Charlie Banana diapers and look forward to see what else they'll add to their great line. Of course, I'm hoping for more of their great pocket diapers in larger sizes and perhaps a fitted diaper as well!

Right now Amazon and Baby R Us are the only places that carry Charlie Banana diapers yet.

WIN IT: Charlie Banana has offered one (1) very lucky reader of  Happily Southern their package of OS 2-in-1 diapering system.

***Giveaway CLOSED***

winner is: #104: Madeline

 

A big THANK YOU to Charlie Banana for providing the review and giveaway items! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

Fluffdom Express: Eco Nuts {CLOSED}

Our Trial Size

 Can you really wash cloth diapers with a "soap nut"? 

Let me tell you about one of my two top faves for detergents and why I think they're great for using in a hospital setting. 

But first I want to share with you what a "soap nut" really is. Eco Nuts™ are completely sustainable dried fruit shells that come from the Sapindus mukorossi tree in Nepal, India and Indonesia. The ones we harvest come from high up in the Himalayas and are the highest quality "soap nut" on the market.

I'll admit that I was very curious to see how well the Eco Nuts would get the gunkies out of the microfiber inserts. The first time or two, I didn't notice a big difference when I'd smell the inserts. But with each wash after, they smelled cleaner and cleaner. Is it funny that I smell the inserts and prefolds before putting the in the dryer? or do you do it too? 


 The thing that intrigued me most about the Eco Nuts, is that they are hypoallergenic and no one has ever complained that they cause any diaper rashes.That is one of the great things about Eco Nuts... what are the other good things about them?

In J's many hospital stays, we found that liquid and powder detergents were continually leaking into suitcases and bags. Basically Eco Nuts are dried balls in a cotton bag. And they don't leak all over the place either. You use 5 nuts for 6-10 loads of laundry and just by taking 10-15 nuts that will get you through at least a two week stay. The only thing that was hard was finding the bag in all the diapers!

Don't want to get a whole big box of Eco Nuts? They offer a trial box with enough nuts for 6-10 loads.

 

Are you wanting to try Eco Nuts? Then here's your chance. 

Mona has generously offered for one (1) reader to win their own 50/90 load box of Eco Nuts. (Yes, I'm jealous of the winner!)

***Giveaway CLOSED***

winner is #12: Cloth Chronicles

 

A big THANK YOU to Eco Nuts for providing the giveaway item! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

Fluffdom Express: Giggle Britches: Tiny Tush Disposable Liners {Review & Giveaway}

***Hi! My name is LeAnn, and I am the owner of Giggle Britches, an online cloth diapering store. I run Giggle Britches from my home located in the St. Louis Metro-East area. My husband and I have been married for
almost 6 years now and have two beautiful daughters. We are expecting our third child in November 2010.

I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and find that I am always looking for more efficient and cost
effective approaches to life's everyday situations. Therefore, shortly after we found out we were expecting our
second child, I began researching cloth diapers. My oldest constantly "blew-out" of disposables as a young
infant, had horrible diaper rashes, and the amount of money I had spent on diapers that were thrown away
made me cringe. Cloth diapers seemed like the logical solution. I started with prefolds, covers, and a few
pockets and have never looked back. I even converted a couple friends into cloth diaper users!***

Can I tell you how much LeAnn impresses me? Although that might take more than one post. Giggle Britches carries many cloth diapers lines and different accessories. One of the accessories that is available is disposable liners by Tiny Tush.

 When we knew that J was going to have his ileostomy surgery, we asked several moms what they thought would be good to get. Disposable liners were mentioned by just about everyone. Then it was time to find a good liner that we could flush and didn't cost an arm and a leg. That's when we found the liners by Tiny Tush. There are 100 - 9"x14" sheets per roll for $6.95 and they're safe to flush down the toilet. 

They came in really handy during J's hospital stay and many, many times since then. They hold #2's very well and it's very easy to pick up the edges and flush it. Which gives me an idea... I should have my dad use one, whenever I actually go somewhere without J, so I don't come back to a pile of dirty diapers on the bathroom counter. 

If you are using rash creams that aren't cloth-friendly, you will probably want to use two liners and and fleece liner for extra protection... because sometimes more IS better! Especially when it comes to protecting your diapers.

They aren't good just as liners though. Recently, J had an appointment with his oncologist for a 'routine' check-up. On the way home, during a stop to change a diaper, we noticed that his g-tube had fallen out. Since yours truly had just cleaned out the diaper bag, we didn't have any gauze with us. Thankfully, in searching through the diaper bag, I found the diaper liners I'd put in a pocket in case I needed them. It worked great and the nurse at the ER was glad it wasn't toilet paper! 

If you have lots of appointments or your child is going to hospitalized, then I strongly recommend getting Tiny Tush liners to make life easier for you. 

Buy It: Giggle Britches carries Tiny Tush Disposable Liners Package of 100 for $6.95

WIN IT: LeAnn at Giggle Britches has generously offered for one (1) reader to win their own Tiny Tush Disposable Liners Package.

Mandatory: Visit Giggle Britches and tell me something that you'd like to get.

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“Protect your diapers w/ liners! #Win a roll from @GigglBritches #Fluffdom Express http://bit.ly/bXjtvv #clothdiapers #specialneeds Ends 9/12"  (5xday)

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A big THANK YOU to Giggle Britches for providing the giveaway item! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

Fluffdom Express: Better for Babies: Little Beetle Prefold {Review & Giveaway}

When searching for cloth diapers and special needs, you sometimes come up at some, well.... 'different' places. Some of which make you wonder how that has anything to do with cloth diapers or special needs. But some of those searches turn up great places. That's how I found Better for Babies!

Better for Babies: natural, organic, and uncompromising baby products. It's a great description for them.


I never thought that I would like prefolds, after the fiasco with them several years ago when we used them with one of J's sisters. Granted, I had no clue of how to use them... and, most importantly, wash them. But, no matter all the things I did wrong, it was evident that prefolds weren't something my dad had any interest in, even now. That all changed when we got to review the Large/Toddler organic prefold from Better for Babies. Made with soft organic fair trade velour on one side, beautiful and heavy duty Hemp French Terry on the other, with a hidden soaker layer of 3 more layers of hemp french terry. It's a thick prefold, but since it's made out of hemp, it's also more absorbent.

When I got J ready for bed the other night, I put him in the Little Beetles Prefold, held it with a snappi, and covered it with our polar bummi. Daddy wasn't real optimistic about the whole situation, but agreed to let J wear it.... as long as I changed his diaper and washed the bedding if he leaked. The next morning, J was still wearing the prefold and cover, even though he'd wet way more than he usually does at night. An added bonus was his diaper rash was looking much better as well. Because there is no PUL or TPU, the air is allowed to circulate around the baby's bum and allows any rash to start the healing process. That's why even when J wets more or poops during the night, if he's in a fitted diaper or a prefold, his rash always looks better.

Prefolds are different than diapers. They're a rectangular piece of absorbent fabric and like a fitted diaper, they need a cover. Plus, the sizing for prefolds is different. You won't find a prefold with a weight range, but with the actual measurements for the size of the prefold. 

Little Beetles prefolds are more expensive than other prefolds I've seen. Running from $11.15 - $12.45 each. It's still less expensive than buying pocket, AIO or AI2 diapers in larger sizes. The Large/Toddler prefold is a less expensive option for special needs kids or for any little one who suffer from constant diaper rashes.

The only thing I wished was different about the prefolds was instead of cotton velour, it was bamboo. Understandably, it would increase the cost of the prefolds, but if you have a little one who gets constant and repeated rashes, it's much better.

J thinks it's a great diaper, but it would much better served if he got to carry it around and rub the velour on his face! {smile}. As for the rest of us? I think most have gotten over the assumption that if it's a prefold, it leaks. I'd love to get some more prefolds for J to use for night-time.

{Prefolds} by Little Beetle: Simplicity, Versatility, Absorbency & Adorableness

Buy It: Better for Babies sells 4 different sizes of prefolds for $11.15 - $12.45 in three different colors (for the velour)

WIN IT: Lauren at Better for Babies has generously offered for one (1) reader to win their own Little Beetle Prefold in the size and color they need/want.

Mandatory: Visit Better for Babies and tell me something that you'd like to have.

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This contest is open to the US only and ends September 4th, 2010 at 12:00 PM EDT. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email as well as announced on Happily Southern. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen and notified.

A big THANK YOU to Better for Babies for providing the review & giveaway items! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

CSN Stores {CLOSED}

Have you heard about CSN Stores yet? If you visit lots of blogs, then you've probably come across several reviews and giveaways for CSN Stores. I've hosted a giveaway for CSN Stores in the past and won a few giveaways that have been sponsored by CSN Stores. I've always been impressed at the quick shipping and the variety of products they carry.

There's one CSN Store in particular that I love to browse through. The cookware section! They have a Le Creuset Dutch oven that holds 9 quarts! Plus blenders and all those kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier! Can you see why I like to shop at CSN Stores? 

I'd love to get this CucinaPro Imperia Home Pasta Machine they carry and of course, I'd definitely want to get some of the attachments for it as well! Do you have a wish list for CSN Stores? I know I do!

WIN IT: Caitlin at CSN Stores has generously offered one (1) reader a $40 gift certificate to CSN Stores!

***Giveaway CLOSED. Winner is Susan***

This contest is open to the US only and ends August 28th, 2010 at 12:00 PM EDT. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email as well as announced on Happily Southern. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen and notified.

A big THANK YOU to CSN Stores for providing the giveaway item! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.

Fluffdom Express: Lulu's in the Fluff {Review & Giveaway}

Totally GLAMOUROUS!!! And... it's not just for your cloth diapers either. Lulu's in the Fluff is great for many other things as evidenced by the chart on their web site. We had been having problems with our cloth diapers. Since J's surgery, he'd been having constant bouts of diaper rash and we were using creams like Calmoseptine which coated our diapers and prevented them from wicking. You can read our review of Lulu's in the Fluff and how to do a glamour sleep on your diapers here. 

When we started using cloth diapers back in March, we thought we'd just stick with our regular laundry detergent, ALL free & clear, since no one in our family was sensitive to it. Unfortunately or fortunately, our diapers didn't do well with it. It was taking waaayyyy to long to wash diapers. From the 8-10 hours for washing till the inserts smelled somewhat decent to now, with using Lulu's, only 5 hours. I'm still working on cutting it down and my ultimate goal is to be able to wash, dry and stuff diapers in 4 hours! Using Lulu's, I'll think I'll get there soon.

Lulu's in the Fluff also has Sparkles Deodorizing Pail Freshener in the same scents as the glamour wash. I love using pail fresheners for keeping down smells in the wet bags on trips to clinic. It would definitely go in a 'cloth diapers in hospital basket'.

Not only is Lulu's in the Fluff a wonderful detergent, but Lulu and the moms who work with her are wonderful as well. Good customer service is something that every company should strive to have. Personally, I think that some companies would do well to take lessons in good customer service from the moms at Lulu's in the Fluff.

For not being really big on scents in general, I love Zippity Doo Dah! and I almost can't wait to try Dimpled Booty and Lavender Vanilla!

This is what our diapers looked like after doing a glamour sleep with Lulu's In The Fluff. Kinda makes you wonder what's in your diapers! 

There's a list of retailers that carry Lulu's in the Fluff on their website. But, since Mothering Grace doesn't carry it yet.... I'll be getting my Lulu's and pail freshener from Country Drawers. 

Buy It: Country Drawers sells Lulu's in the Fluff for $10.95 for regular formula and $11.95 for hard water formula. Country Drawers is also donating 50% of the proceeds from all instock Lulu's in the Fluff to The Cloth Diaper Foundation. You can read more about the CDF here.

WIN IT: Lulu's in the Fluff has generously offered one (1) reader their own full size bag of Lulu's In The Fluff Glamour Wash in their choice of Naked Booty (regular) or Unscented Hard Water and a Lulu's in the Fluff label for some laundry room glamour

Mandatory: Visit Lulu's In The Fluff and tell me what scent you'd like to try.

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“Glamourize your #clothdiapers with Lulu's in the Fluff! #Win some during #FluffdomExpress  http://bit.ly/bXjtvv #giveaway #specialneeds Ends 9/4“ (5xday)

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This contest is open to the US only and ends August 28th, 2010 at 12:00 PM EDT. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email as well as announced on Happily Southern. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen and notified.

A big THANK YOU to Lulu's in the Fluff for providing the giveaway items! We were not compensated in any other way and the statements within this post are our own and honest opinions.