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Friday, July 30, 2010

World Breastfeeding Week 2010

Sunday, August 1, marks the start of World Breastfeeding Week. In celebration, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide will be promoting the 19th year of World Breastfeeding Week with the theme “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way”.


With these Ten Steps in place, women are more likely to achieve their breastfeeding goals. That is why it is so important for every birthing center, hospital, clinic, and community to strive to increase the number of steps in place, even if they cannot achieve all ten steps immediately. Every step counts!

In honor of World Breast Feeding Week, I'm getting a Breast Feeding t-shirt from We Add Up. Like I need an excuse!


Because...

"No one can do everything. Everyone can do something."

I love this slogan! Check out all the different green actions that you can promote. From buying local to showering together (bet you never thought about that one!), there are so many to choose. And yes, breastfeeding is most definitely green and Eco-Cheap!

Hmmm. I am in need of a few t-shirts.

In what ways do you help promote breast feeding, and/or other green causes?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Sensational Haiku/Wordless Wednesday - Horizons



On the beach looking
As far as my eyes can see
Aha! I get it!

Peace. Relaxation.
Just being in the moment
Taking it all in

I didn't think we were beach people, but after spending a week on our first family beach vacation I didn't want to leave!




Join in on the Haiku fun! Head over to  You know...that Blog? and add your Haiku to the list! You know you want to!

Monday, July 26, 2010

And the winner of the Smartipants Diaper Giveaway is...




Congratulations Michelle!

The winner has been confirmed.

Note: My comments number to 200 and start over. Although the comment says 12 it is actually comment 212.

And the winner of the GLOB Paint Giveaway is...




Congratulations khaymax!

The winner has been confirmed.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Beach People

The Hubby and I have been together over 15 years. In those 15 years, we have been on many vacations, most of which have been during the winter to destinations where we could snowboard. We enjoyed snowboarding so much that we moved Colorado in 2002 so that we could be snowboard bums. Not literally since we were both gainfully employed, but we did spend over 50 days on the mountain our first winter. A little less the following. We spent two years there and had a great time and made many memories. It was an experience I am glad we had because as soon as we moved back to our hometown in Tennessee, our lives took a 180 degree turn and I haven't snowboarded since.

We started making babies. And everyone knows that once you have babies, everything changes. It's funny how everyone tells you how much your life is going to change when you have kids. I mean obviously, right. But you just don't understand how much until you have a child. 

Priorities, perspective, attitudes, ideals...they all changed. I'm okay with that. In fact, I'm more than okay with that. Our ideal vacation right now doesn't involve a foot or two of fresh powder, or snowmobiles and hundreds of acres of trails. It involves the beach, kiddie pools, and family bike rides because now that we have kids, we are beach people and it feels perfect.


The kids seeing the ocean for the very first time

Sunday, July 11, 2010

And the winners of the Cameron Rafati Autographed CD Giveaway are...




Congratulations Josefine!

And winner #2 is...

Congratulations Louis!

The winners have been confirmed.

And the winner of the All-Terrain Giveaway is...




Congratulations Hotsnotty2!

The winner has been confirmed.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Smartipants One Size Cloth Diaper - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 7/23***

It's time for another cloth diaper review and giveaway! I'm excited to tell you about the Smartipants One-Size diaper. Just when I thought I had seen all the different types of pocket diapers available, I received the Smartipants and was pleasantly surprised. It's not your typical pocket diaper.

At first glance it looks like most one-size cloth diapers. It adjusts via a front snap rise system, and fits from 7-35 pounds or 3 sizes. But when you open it up you immediately see the difference. Instead of a pocket, there is the patented Smart Sleeve.

What's so great about the Smart Sleeve? First of all, the insert(liner) is very easy to insert. Second, the insert stays in place with no bunching or shifting whatsoever. And last, you don't have to take out the insert to wash! Just take it off and toss in the diaper pail.


The most important part of any cloth diaper is the insert. It must be super thirsty and be able to retain as much liquid as possible. The Smart Sleeve Insert fits the bill and is made from a polyester-nylon blend that is very soft and super absorbent. Each Smartipants diaper comes with an insert, but you can also purchase additional inserts to use for nap time or overnight. A 10-pack of the Smart Sleeve Inserts is only $19.95! What a steal for such highly absorbent inserts!

We absolutely love the Smartipants diaper! It's an extremely reliable diaper in that it does not leak! There have been a few times that it has been left on for longer than it should have been and it did not leak.  Not only is it leak-proof, it fits great too. I tend to like a very trim fitting diaper for my skinny boy and this diaper is a bit "taller" than I usually prefer. But, the way the insert is in the sleeve, there's not much of a fluffy bum and it produces a very trim fit. The Smartipants is definitely a must have in everyone's diaper stash and at $14.95 per diaper there's no reason you shouldn't!

Enter to win a Smartipants Diaper in choice of color!

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Smartipants and tell me what color you would choose. (While you are there, you should check out the Baby-of-the-Month Photo Contest. You could win a 3-pack of Smartipants!)

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 Smartipants on Facebook
  • Follow thesmartipants on Twitter.
  • Join the Smartipants mailing list. (bottom left corner of the homepage)
  • 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 (once per day).
  • 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 @Smartipants in the post.
  • Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): The smart way to diaper is with @theSmartipants one-size! Win one from @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/9l7jpF #clothdiapers #giveaway ends 7/23
Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 23rd, 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 Smartipants diaper to review. I was not compensated in any other way and the statements above are my own honest opinion.***

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Sensational Haiku Wednesday - Contemplation


Overthinking things
Prolongs making decisions
Quit thinking so hard!

I need to listen to my own words! 




Join in on the Haiku fun! Head over to  You know...that Blog? and add your Haiku to the list! You know you want to!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone has a lovely, fun-filled, and safe day! Enjoy the day, but most importantly appreciate the freedoms we are blessed to celebrate every day!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Glob Natural Paints - A Review and Giveaway!

***Giveaway Closed 7/16***

As a kid, did you ever take flower petals, leaves, or berries and try to paint with them? Well, I did. I guess I was pretty "green"all those years ago. I wish I would have been smart enough to turn it into a business!

Ashley, the founder of GLOBtook my great idea and developed an eco-friendly and non-toxic paint using all natural botanicals. These water-based paints are perfect for use in crafts and do-it-yourself projects. They are made from colors found in nature and are colored by fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices...and they are biodegradable.

The most unique thing about the GLOB Natural Blends is that it comes as a powder. The dry powder pigments minimize the manufacturing process, and save weight and energy when shipped which reduces the environmental impact. The water soluble pigments become paint just by adding water.

We were excited to put the paint to the test. We received the GLOB Paint Colors six-pack which contains all six colors that are available: Lemon Verbena, Tangerine, Pomegranate, Plum Purple, Berry Blue, and Basil Green. Each packet makes 1 to 2 ounces of paint depending on how thick or thin you make it. I mixed it fairly thin because really, there's no need for thick paint when a toddler and a 4 year old are using it. It took me a couple tries to get it just right, but by the third color I had it figured out. What worked for me was to start with a little water and then add a little bit of powder at a time until the right consistency was achieved.

Instead of using separate bowls for each color, I used an old paint tray. This one had only 4 spaces, so I only mixed up 4 colors. It worked perfectly and once we were finished, I put it back in the case and stored it in the fridge until the next time. Since the colors are natural, it is recommended they be refrigerated after mixing with water, but it's probably best to just mix up what you need. With little ones though, you never know how much you'll need so it's nice to be able to save it for later if you must. Note: A little goes a long way!

Both kids really enjoy painting. Cakes, my 4 year old, has really started to paint specific things not just smears of paint everywhere and this paint worked wonderfully. I love how natural the colors are! Here she is with her picture of the sun.


And here is the Bubby. He looks so serious. I think we might have an artist on our hands.


I love these paints, especially because I know they are all natural and eco-friendly. I'm not freaked out about the Bubby getting it all over his hands. Beware. They do tend to stain the skin, but easily wiped off of my table. They smell delicious and are made using food-grade ingredients, so I'm okay with the Bubby even putting it in his mouth, although I do discourage it. But if they do eat it, rest assured, they are gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan.

GLOB Paints also offers a Paint Kit and Easy Shake Jars. The Paint Kit includes 6 color packets, 6 compostable jars with lids, and 2 bamboo vegan brushes all packaged in a rice paper pouch. The Easy Shake Jars come in a box of 4 jars for easy shake and go colors. The jars can be refilled and reused with the Natural Color Blends packets.



Enter to win a Natural Blends 6-Pack!

Mandatory Entry:
Visit GLOB and tell me what you would use the paints for.

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 GLOB on Facebook
  • Follow globiton 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 a link to this giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to mention @Glob in the post.
  • Follow @ecocheapmom on Twitter and tweet (up to 3x per day, at least an hour apart): Win all natural, eco-friendly paint from @globiton and @ecocheapmom http://bit.ly/b1ZwTY #eco #giveaway ends 7/16
Good Luck!

Open to US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 16th, 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 Yoreganics Giveaway is...




Congratulations curlie girlie!

The winner has been confirmed.

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