The Light

This Haiku is dedicated to my friend Katie Granju. Her eldest child, Henry, passed away May 31st, and her new baby girl, Georgia, was born June 27th.

Grieving for his loss

Took you down roads way too dark

Thinking there's no light

Blinded by sadness

Embraced by your great sorrow

 Unable to move

You'll never forget

He will never forget you

Always - Forever 

Then there is a light

And just like that you can see

Shine, sweet Georgia, shine

The grip has loosened

The road illuminated

Able to move now

 

Now go on over to You know...that Blog? and add your Haiku to the list! You know you want to!

Sarahsewta's Wonderful World of JoJo's - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 7/13***

Sarahsewta is a very fun shop on Etsy that I recently had the opportunity to check out. If you haven't heard of  Etsy before, it is basically an online shopping destination that features shops that sell handmade or vintage items. Beware. Etsy is a very addictive place! I have purchased many items on Etsy and have had nothing but positive experiences! Much better than shopping at the local mall because it is all made by hand or vintage.

Sarasewta's Wonderful World of Jojo's is yet another great little shop on Etsy that I am happy to have discovered! Sarah is the lovely lady behind Sarahsewta, and her shop includes rice bags, bibs, blankets, and wash cloths and more...all made out of minky, a super soft microfiber fabric that feels like mink. Oh minky! So soft against the skin!

The cornerstone product of Sarahsewta's shop are the Jojo Minky Rice bags. What are rice bags? Rice bags are bags of rice that are used for cold or heat therapy. Heat them in the microwave and use as a heat pack, or freeze and use as an ice pack.

Jojo Rice Bags go beyond the boring utilitarian heat/cold packs and serve a very practical use. They are boo boo bags for your special little girl/boy! Jojo bags help with all types of boo boos and are perfect for all kinds of aches (headaches, ear aches, stomach aches) and pains. They come in 2 sizes - 6x6 or 5x10 and are made with super soft minkee dot fabric. The neat thing is you can even customize your Jojo to whatever color you want. Your child will love having such a special and soft friend that can help ease their pain and make them feel better!

We received our very own 6x6 Jojo bag and think he's a cool (literally) dude! A few weeks ago, Cakes had a viral illness and was having trouble sleeping because her head hurt. I placed Jojo on her head
and he provided some much needed relief. She almost immediately settled down and fell asleep. Jojo to the rescue! We keep him in the freezer so he's aways ready to go for head bumps, fevers, or just a cool friend to hug on a hot summer day!

We also received an Appliqued Minky Dot Pull Over Bib to review as well. Isn't the one pictured to the right absolutely adorable?! I'm kind of jealous that it wasn't available when I got to choose one to review! Besides being adorable and soft, these bibs are super functional too! They are nice and large ( approx 11"x18") and provide tremendous coverage to prevent messes on your little ones clothes. One problem we have had with bibs is the baby pulling them off. Once the velcro gets a little old a little tug and the bib is off. Not so with these bibs. They pull over the head, just like a shirt so it's very difficult, if not impossible, for the little one to get it off.

We are very pleased with the functionality as well as the styling of this bib! It did a perfect job of protecting the Bubby's clothes and we always get a compliment or two (or three) on how absolutely adorable it is. I just wish I had more! Hmmm. I think I'll order the Monkey one like above! Shhhh! Don't tell the Hubs!

 Raise your hand if you like your bib

Head on over to Sarahsewta and save 10% on your order! Use code "Eco-Cheap 10" (Etsy doesn't have a way to enter coupon codes so enter the code in the message to seller box and she will refund your money).

 or...

Enter to win a $20 Gift Card!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Sarahsewta and tell me what you would buy with your $20 gift card.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like Sarahsewta on Facebook
• Follow Sarahsewta on Twitter.
• Follow the Sarasewta blog on Google Friend Connect.
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post a link to this giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to mention @Sarasewta in the post.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Win a $20 Gift Card to @Sarahsewta Home of Jojo Boo Boo Bags! Check out the cuteness! http://bit.ly/d2RvLZ @ecocheapmom #giveaway ends 7/13

Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 13th, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was given products to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

And the winner of the SodaStream Giveaway is...

Congratulations Valancia!

The winner has been confirmed.

Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Challenge

I've missed the haikus

Too busy. Not enough time

Making time today

Why? Because it's a...

Haiku-versary! One year.

Celebrate with us!

How? Join in the fun!

I challenge you to haiku.

Tell them I sent you.

Now go on over to You know...that Blog? and add your Haiku to the list! You know you want to!

Cameron Rafati - A Music Review and Autographed CD Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 7/5***

I recently got the chance to review a CD from an up and coming artist, Cameron Rafati. His self titled debut album features 8 beautifully written songs, none of which sound the same. Classified as Alternative Rock, this album is an eclectic mix of styles, from alternative to pop rock, to one song that is pretty dark, and another that lovingly pokes fun at Salt Lake City, his home town. One thing this album does not lack is emotion.

My favorite song is 53rd Story. It is a amazingly beautiful ballad inspired by the movie "Lost In Translation". Cameron received a “Best Score” nomination during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival for this song. The nomination earned him an invitation to subsequent years of the Sundance Film Festival as an Official Artist.

He just recently released a video for "1 in 10". Check it out. It's a very catchy tune!








Rafati has such a unique style, and stunning voice. He is such a talented singer/songwriter. I'm surprised he hasn't made it big yet! Keep an eye out for him, I think he has a very bright future!

Want to listen for yourself? Head over to his website and listen to all of the songs. Love what you heard? Then head over to iTunes and download it. Feeling lucky? Then enter to win it!

Enter for your chance to win an autographed Cameron Rafati CD! There will be two winners!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit the Cameron Rafati page listen to some songs and tell me which is your favorite.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like Cameron Rafati on Facebook.
• Follow CameronRafati on Twitter.
• Sign up for perks on the Cameron Rafati Website.
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post a link to this giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to mention @Cameron Rafati in the post.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Win an autographed copy of @CameronRafati's self titled debut CD from @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/9BJSV4 #np #giveaway ends 7/5

Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 5th, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was given a digital copy of this CD to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

And the winner of the Sprout Change Diaper Giveaway is...

Congratulations Sugar Dipes!

The winner has been confirmed.

Note: My comments number to 200 and restart. Although this says 196 it was actually comment #396.

All Terrain Natural Products - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 7/3***

Summer time is here! We LOVE the warm weather and all the fun that goes along with it like afternoons on the lake, evening walks, picnics, and all the other fun outdoor activities. We are a very active family and spend lots of time outside. Spending all that time outside is great, but exposure to so much sun and bugs isn't! We use lots of sunscreen and bug spray to help protect us.

In the past, we used whatever brand of sunscreen and insect repellent that was the best deal. We figured they all were about the same. And then I started learning about phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, and other harmful chemicals that are in many, many bath and body products on the market. I wasn't sure what we were going to do for sunscreen and bug repellent. Luckily, I received a review request from All Terrain, a company that offers natural products for outdoor enthusiasts.

"All Terrain wants to help you enjoy the outdoors in a healthy way, which is why we make natural products for the outdoors."

They offer so many great products! Insect repellents, first aid supplies, sun protection, sanitizers, soaps, latex-free bandages, kid's care products, and even pet care products. I especially like all of the kid's care products. My children's health is of the utmost importance to me and having natural options for their care makes this mama happy.

We tested two different products from the All Terrain Kid's Care line and were very happy with them both.

The KidSport Spray SPF 30 is a natural sun block that offers broad UVA/UVB protection. It comes in a very convenient pump spray which makes application quick and easy. Perfect for sensitive skin, this sunscreen is oxybenzone-free, PABA-free, paraben free, and doesn't sting your eyes.

"All Terrain sun protection products are designed to protect your skin naturally and are biodegradable. Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages get the broadest UVA/UVB protection with TerraSport, AquaSport, KidSport, WinterSport and WeatherShield because they contain Z-Cote®."

This sunscreen is fantastic! It offers great sun protection without harmful chemicals. I appreciate that I can apply it to their face and not worry about it stinging their eyes. Really. No fits over sunscreen in the eyes! It also stays on through lots of swimming and water splashing. I was really impressed with how long it stays on. Check out how the water is beaded on Cakes face. This was after she had been swimming for a while.

We also tested the Kid's Herbal Armor Spray. This 100% DEET-FREE insect repellent is made with only natural ingredients including oils of citronella, peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, and geranium. It is clinically proven to be 100% effective for over 2 hours, 95% effective for 3 hours and 77.1% effective for four hours.

This is the best insect repellent that I've ever used! I HATE all of the chemical laden repellents and refuse to wear them. Not only do they smell awful, they make me feel ill. Not the Herbal Armor Spray! I think it smells delightful and I don't mind using it every time we go outside. I spray the kids and myself with it and are protected from the nasty mosquitoes. They love the Bubby and me and will eat us up if we go outside without any on. One lesson I learned is to make sure to spray it on any exposed skin and bugs will stay away!

Enter to win one All Terrain product of choice!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit All Terrain and tell me what other products interest you.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like All-Terrain on Facebook
• Follow AllTerrainCo on Twitter.
• Sunscribe to the All Terrain Blog feed
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post a link to this giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to mention @All Terrain in the post.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Chemical-free sunscreen, bug repellent & more! Win choice from @AllTerrainCo & @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/cO5fyw #eco #giveaway ends 7/3

Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was given products to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

From the Mouth of Cakes

We went to dinner tonight (surprise, surprise) at our favorite Mexican joint. As we approached the entrance, Cakes addressed some of the restaurant patrons who were eating dinner on the front patio.

Cakes: We aren't eating dinner out here tonight.

Fellow patron: Oh? It is pretty hot out here. It will be much cooler inside.

Cakes: No, that's not why! It's because you guys are smoking those stinky cigarettes.

I kept walking, as fast as I could, trying my hardest not to laugh!

That's my girl! Always speaking the truth.

And the winner of the BigSkinny Wallet Giveaway is...

Congratulations ColleenMarie82!

The winner has been confirmed.

Yoreganics Natural Organic Laundry Products - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 6/28***

In effort to minimize our family's daily exposure to toxic chemicals, we have been trying to use more and more natural products in our life. One area where we have made significant changes is the way I launder our clothes. I stopped using fabric softeners and commercially manufactured laundry detergents over 2 years ago. I use vinegar in the final rinse as a natural fabric softener, and I use only natural laundry detergents.

Over the last 2 years, I have heard about natural soap nuts and always wanted to give them a try but I was pretty happy with what I was currently using so I never bought any. I tend to stick with what works. And then I was approached to do a review for Yoreganics.

 "Yoreganics is a reflection of the days of yore, long ago, when life was simple and cleaning was natural."

Yoreganics offers natural laundry products such as soap nuts, stain remover, and a brightener & whitener. Soap nuts are nuts from the soapberry tree (Sapindus mukorossi) found in Northern India and Nepal. Their outer shell contains saponin, a natural soap! The 100% natural soap cleans, softens and removes odor from your laundry. You just add a few soap nuts to the included small bag, toss in the washer, and the agitation of the wash releases the soap to clean your clothes!

I wasn't sure how effective the soap nuts would be, but to my surprise, they worked! A few nuts last 4-6 washes. Try a sample for $1.99, or buy an 85 load for $12.99 (about .15/load) or a 170 load for $21.99 (.13/load).

The organic stain remover is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and USDA organic. It is made with all natural ingredients: Saponified organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils, organic aloe vera, organic blend of essential oils and rosemary extract and it smells yummy...very citrusy. This all natural stain remover will remove fresh stains like: ink, dirt, blood, grass, food grease, kid and pet "accidents", chocolate, mayo, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, ketchup & more! Spray on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then gently scrub, rinse, and wash like normal.

I used this to remove ink stains, blood, and chili stains. On all of the stains, it worked! The best part is I didn't worry about having chemicals on my hands as I scrubbed. You can buy the stain remover in 2 sizes. A .41 ounce travel size is $3.99 and a 8 ounce size with trigger is $9.99.

The Brightens & Whitens is a product that enables you to whiten and brighten your clothes without using harmful chlorine bleach, fragrances, phosphates, or enzymes. Made with sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate, you will notice more brilliant colors and crisper whites! It can be used as a stain and odor remover by using it to soak your laundry, or as a laundry enhancer by adding an ounce to your wash.

Not one to use bleach, my whites aren't as white as they could be so I was glad to give this a try. I added a couple of tablespoons to my whites load and they seemed to be a bit whiter. This is available in a 3 ounce sampler at $1.99 or a 2 pound bag for $12.99.

In addition to the natural laundry products, Yoreganics also carries body products like lip balm, facial bars, foaming wash, and bug spray. I love lip stuff, so I was pretty happy to get the chance to try out the Simplemint lip balm. The Yoreganics Lip Balm is USDA certified organic and made from organic palm oil, organic beeswax, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic essential oil of peppermint, organic hemp seed oil, organic essential oil of spearmint, and vitamin E.  I do not like waxy lip balms like Chapstick, and this is not waxy at all. It goes on smooth and silky and keeps my lips moist. At $3.99 for an organic lip balm, it's well worth it!

Enter to win a Laundry Trio Sampler and a Simplemint Lip Balm!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Yoreganics and tell me what other products interest you.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like Yoreganics on Facebook
• Follow Yoreganics on Twitter.
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Try soap nuts! Win @Yoreganics Natural Organic Laundry Products & Lip Balm from @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/9jyAfg #eco #giveaway ends 6/28

Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends June 28th, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was given a Laundry Trio and Lip Balm to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

The Unknown Hazard of Low Rise Pants

So, everyone knows the obvious hazards of low rise pants. The dreaded muffin top, the undeniable plumber's crack while bending over, the embarrassing reveal of underwear (or panties if you prefer), but today I discovered a less know risk.

While weeding my flowerbeds this evening I became a victim of some very thirsty mosquitoes that decided my lower back/top of my bum was the perfect buffet line!

Five bites in a row. And yes, that's one at the top of my plumber's crack!

I diligently applied plenty of bug spray before going outside, but I quite obviously did not apply any on my backside. Lesson learned.

Best Friends

Cakes and her best buddy Ethan

Be sure to stop by Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom for more great photos!

SodaStream Home Soda Maker - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 6/21***

You make soda at home?! Yes, we sure do! It is easy, economical, and green! It's Eco-Cheap!

We got the chance to give the SodaStream Home Soda Maker a try. I thought it was going to be another one of those kitchen gadgets that you get and use like crazy at first. Once the initial excitement wore off, I figured it would end up taking up space on the counter and collecting dust. Well, the sodastream is no ordinary kitchen gadget and we are pleasantly surprised by how much we have enjoyed it!

The SodaStream Soda Maker is a sleek, fashionable, fun, and easy to use device that allows you to carbonate tap water. You simply fill the special SodaStream bottle with water, screw it to the soda maker, push the carbonator button a few times, and voila...fresh and easy sparkling water.

Don't care for plain, sparkling water? Me neither. SodaStream offers a wide variety of over 30 sodamix syrups including dozens of regular, diet, and caffeine-free options. The regular flavors contain NO HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, and contain less sugar, calories, carbohydrates and sodium than national drink brands, because they are sweetened with a combination of sugar and Splenda. The diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda, not aspartame. Each bottle makes about 12 liters of soda (approx. 33 cans) which comes out to about 25 cents per 12-ounce can.

We tried diet cola, diet caffeine-free cola, zero cola, diet lemon-lime, diet pink grapefruit, orange, cranberry-raspberry, and energy. My favorite is the diet caffeine-free cola. I love the taste! I think it's better than either Coke or Pepsi. I don't drink any caffeinated products, so the Hubs drinks the diet cola and the zero cola and thinks they are every bit as good as the nationally recognized brands. His favorite is the Energy flavor. He says it tastes just like Redbull, and it's GOOD! All of the flavors we tried, and had others try, are very good and taste just as good as the nationally recognized brands.

Personally, I think they all taste better because I can customize the amount of carbonation and it is always fresh. I like my soda extra fizzy, so I give it a few extra "shots" of carbonation and it turns out perfect!

So, what makes the SodaStream green? By making your own soda at home you aren't buying soda from the store in plastic bottles, which means less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste, and fewer bottled beverages to be transported from manufacturers to distributors, to stores, and ultimately to your home.

It is also considered an "active green" product which means that consumers are actively reducing their CO2 footprint every time they make soda or sparkling water. The more it is used, the more CO2 footprint the user actively saves.

The SodaStream Home Soda Makers are easy, make great tasting beverages, save money, and are green. What more can you ask for in a product?! Starting at $99.95 with 4 different styles to choose from, you will  find one that will look great in your kitchen too!

Enter to win a SodaStream Fountain Jet Starter Kit (retail value of $99.95)!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit SodaStream and tell me what flavors you would like to try.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like SodaStream on Facebook
• Follow SodaStreamUSA on Twitter.
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Make your own soda at home! Win a @SodaStreamUSA Fountain Jet Starter Kit from @ecocheapmom. http://bit.ly/akOLs4 #eco #giveaway ends 6/21

Good Luck!

Open to US residents only. Giveaway ends June 21st, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was given a SodaStream Fountain Jet to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

And the winner of the Anima Soap Giveaway is...

Congratulations Kayte!

The winner has been confirmed.

Chili's Bar & Grill - New Fresh Menu Items - A Review

It's no secret that our family eats out. We eat out a lot. And by a lot, I mean several times a week, sometimes twice in a day. We are very busy and I just don't have time to cook every night. That's a good excuse at least! We do try to use coupons wherever we go, because it gets expensive to eat out so much. So, you can imagine my excitement when I was contacted to do a review for Chili's Grill & Bar. I was given a $50 gift card for my family and I to go and try some new freshly prepared menu items and share our opinion. Woo hoo! Free dinner at one of my favorite places to eat!

I really do enjoy Chili's. I usually order the Skillet Queso as an appetizer and either Chicken Crispers or the Quesadilla Explosion Salad. I'm a girl of habit and I like what I like, so it was hard to "have to" choose something new. But I did. We all did.

We started the meal with the Chicken Loaded Nachos. Oh my, were these delicious! There were 8 nacho chips each topped with hand-pulled smoked chicken, melted cheese, green onions and cilantro sour cream. They also come in a 12 chip size.

We all enjoyed these, but Cakes was the biggest fan! She ate more than any of us! I really like how each chip is individually topped. It makes it easier to eat and each one has the perfect amount of topping.

The hubs and I decided we would split the Chicken & Green Chile Soup.  Made with chicken, rice, green chiles, and tomatoes and topped with cilantro, avocado, and a lime, it sounded right up our alley.We are both big fans of this southwest flavor combination! It was tasty! The chicken was so tender. I wished that I didn't have to split it with the hubs...and the kids. Bubby thought the chicken and avocado bits were yummy and Cakes enjoyed the broth.

For the entree, the Hubs ordered the Shiner Bock BBQ Burger. This is one of Chili's Big Mouth Burgers which are made fresh, never frozen, with 100 percent USDA Choice beef. Topped with sweet 'n tangy Shiner Bock BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese and crispy onion strings, this is one big and juicy burger! The hubs thought it was a very good burger and would definitely order it again...but perhaps with a little less sauce. Every bite produced sauce all over his hands! I'm not a big BBQ sauce fan, but I tried a bite and though it was very good!

For my entree, I chose the small Asian Salad. The salad consisted of lettuce, napa cabbage, crispy wontons, edamame, green onions, cilantro, sesame seeds, Asian vinaigrette and a creamy peanut drizzle and choice of either chicken, salmon, or steak. I chose chicken and it was everything I had hoped it would be, except I wished I had ordered the large size! I ate every bit of it. This salad is my new favorite, although, like the burger, I will order it with less (sauce) dressing.

The best part of the meal was the dessert! Isn't it always! Molten Chocolate Cake. Mmmmmm! Although this is not a new menu item, I had to mention it. I mean, this is the best dessert ever! Just looking at it makes my mouth water!

Want to win dinner at Chili's?

Chili's is running a promotion called "Shout Out to Eat Out". Head over to ShoutOutToEatOut.com and tell them why you don't want to cook tonight, and you could be entered to win a gift card to Chili's. There's one winner a day until August 30th, 2010.

Sprout Change Organic Cloth Diaper from The Willow Store - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 6/18***

Cloth diapering was such a great decision, there's no doubt about that. But trying to figure out what kind and brand of cloth diaper to start with was overwhelming! There are so many to choose from! I though I had it all figured out and had seen all the different kinds, and then I was asked to review the Sprout Change One-Size (and reversible) Organic Diaper from The Willow Store.

I have never before used a cloth diaper like The Sprout Change diaper. It consists of a completely adjustable and reversible waterproof side snapping diaper shell with a lay in insert that is stuffed inside a moisture wicking "SoftSleeve".

When I say completely adjustable, I mean completely adjustable. There are internal elastic adjustments that allow you to customize the fit around the waist and the legs. Up to 18 settings! The elastic for the waist is in the back, as there is no elastic upfront. There is only one set of snaps on each hip, so there's never any guessing on which snap to do. The adjustment is all in the internal elastic. This makes it particularly daddy and daycare friendly, since once the diaper is adjusted, it's set at the perfect size. It did take a couple of tries to get the perfect fit, but like I said, once you have it adjusted, it's always ready to go.

I have begun to have a real preference for diapers with the lay in liners. They are easy, especially when at home, and they cut down on diaper laundry. I love that I can just lay an insert in it and go. I also love that I can use the same cover several times before replacing with a new one. But one thing I don't like is when the lay in liners aren't stay dry, meaning it stays wet feeling against their skin. Well, with this system with the liner is inserted into a stay-dry sleeve. Perfect! The sleeves are available in either ultra-soft microfleece or organic cotton fleece and the inserts (or insides) are made from a super absorbent hemp/cotton blend.

The Sprout Change diaper is a very nice diapering system. It fits well and performs perfectly! The bum appears to be pretty fluffy, but with pants on, it flattens out quite a bit. We experienced no leaks at all. I find it to be a completely reliable diaper. 

My diaper cost calculations are based on 8 changes/day for 3 days worth of diapers. With the hybrid systems, it's usually a 3 to 1 ratio of inserts to covers. With this system you would need 8 covers and 24 inserts.

The Sprout Change with 1 insert is $24.95. A three change booster pack (3 insides, 3 SoftSleeves) costs $32.95. So to last from birth to potty training you'd need 8 diapers plus insert, plus 6 booster packs. It would cost $397.30 for a total of 8 covers and 26 inserts. (Disposables on average cost $800 per year). That's a great deal!

Interested in mama cloth? The Willow Store offers a nice selection of Willow Pads. I tried out the panty liners and they are very nice...soft and much better for you than disposable pads! Be sure to check them out!

Enter to Win a Sprout Change Organic Diaper in choice of color!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit The Willow Store and tell me what color you would choose and another product they carry that interests you.

Extra Entries:

After completion of the mandatory entry you are eligible for any of these additional entries. Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

• Like The Willow Store on Facebook.
• Follow TheWillowStore on Twitter.
• Sign up for the The Willow Store newsletter.
• Follow my blog publicly through Google friend connect.
• Grab my button and post it on your sidebar.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom via email.
• Subscribe to Eco-Cheap Mom in a reader.
• Vote for Eco-Cheap Mom on Top Mommy Blogs.
• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to link back to my site and leave the URL where you blogged in your comment. (2 entries)
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook.
• Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day at least an hour apart): Win a Sprout Change Reversible One Size Diaper from @TheWillowStore and @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/a4Hz8k #clothdiapers #giveaway ends 6/18

Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends June 18th, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

***I was sent this diaper from The Willow Store to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***