GroVia Review and Giveaway Sponsored by Bums N Beyond

GroVia, now that is a name that everyone has been hearing about I am sure!  GroVia just seems to be growing larger and larger every day!  They make so many different products that you could use just GroVia all the time. GroVia makes (deep breath): 

• Newborn AIOs
• OS AIOs
• Trainers (coming soon)
• OS AI2 shell (in snaps and hook and loop)
• Organic cotton soaker pads
• Stay dry soaker pads (coming soon)
• Organic cotton boosters
• Stay dry boosters
• BioSoakers
• BioDiaper
• Cloth Wipes
• Magic Stick (cd safe diaper rash ointment) 
• Bio Liners
• Wetbags
• Pail liners
• Tiny Bubbles (cd safe laundry detergent)
• And a few limited edition items

Whew!  See why I had to take a deep breath for that one!?!?!?  I have tried a lot of these products, but would probably spend about 20 years telling you about all of them, so I am just going to give a brief review of all the things that I have used.

First, let's start out with the OS AIOs.  I have to say that I really do enjoy these, but opted for the AI2s personally because of the drying time on the AIOs.  I just could not wait that long for diapers to dry especially seeing that my back area is in the shade almost all day long (which I am sure made it harder for my AIOs to dry).  But they have some WONDERFUL absorbency and a great fit!

Next, let's talk about the OS AI2s that they have.  This is the diaper that Bums N Beyond sent me to review.  Bums N Beyond is a wonderful newer shop online.  They are located in Los Angeles, California.  How I wish I could move out to California.  It seems like everything amazing is located there lol.  Anyways, back on topic.  Bums N Beyond offers carriers and wraps, Oh Katy, GroVia, Ju-Ju-Bee, Best Bottom, AppleCheeks, BumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz....and MORE!  You should really check them out.  The owner is EXTREMELY friendly and seems to always try to provide the best customer service that she can provide!  

So, on with the AI2 review.  These are my number one diaper.  Not joking...I am IN LOVE with this diaper.  I have tried them with prefolds, the soaker pads, fitted diapers, and the biosoakers...and I love this AI2 cover above anything else.  When fitted with one of their soaker pads, it is just amazing absorbency!  Add in just one organic cotton booster pad and you have the BEST overnight diaper there is!  Not only that, I am amazed by the trimness of this diaper!!!  Even with a prefold shoved in there it just seems to make it all just go away!!!  

The BioSoakers are what I use a lot for car trips and for extended trips out side of the house.  They work wonders.  I took a trip all the way to New York to visit family using these without a single leak.  If you need extra absorbency(nap or so on) you can just rip a little hole in one of the BioSoaker liners and stick that on top of another one.  It is still super trim and easy to use!

So far I have covered the OS AIOs, OS AI2s, Organic cotton soaker pads, organic cotton boosters,  and the BioSoaker.  Next we will talk about the last two things that I have tried, the Magic Stick and Tiny Bubbles.

The Magic Stick is a wonderful mess-free cloth diaper safe ointment.  I love the way it smells and just rolls right onto my son's skin.  There is no need to get it all over your fingers or anything else.  Just remember that if you use this, you will need a separate stick for each child that you have as you do not want to cross contaminate any germs that one might have.

Tiny Bubbles is GroVia's wonderful detergent.  This detergent works pretty good.  The only thing is that it does not have any scents (which is actually pretty good for my sensitive baby).  I like using the trial packs for when I take a trip some where instead of having to bring a whole thing of laundry detergent with me.

Wow, sorry so long, but I had a lot to say about GroVia and their products, along with Bums N Beyond for providing this wonderful review and giveaway for you all!


Bums N Beyond Current Specials!!!
Buy 6 GroVia shells and get the 7th one free (free ones can only be either ice or cosmo color) Plus you get free shipping with this order!!!  No code needed!!!


New Boba 3G is currently 10% off plus free shipping!!!!


Buy and 6 of Best Bottom Diapers, GroVia, Oh Katy, bumGenius, or AppleCheeks get a free 1 size diaper in either blue or pink and a free wet bag and free shipping!!!  You may mix and match and no code is needed!

Save $5.00 OFF $35.00, Use Code: OCT5

Save $10.00 OFF 100.00, Use Code: OCT10

Save $35.00 OFF $235.00, Use Code: OCT35

Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapering a Newborn

Alright, I have been at cloth diapering a newborn for a few days now and I thought I would let you know the pros and cons of cloth diapering.  I used only disposables with my first son and disposables while we were in the hospital but decided to start cloth diapering as soon as we got home.  Here is what I have found.

Pros

• Obviously the environment factor and the money factor
• Cloth diapers seem to be more absorbent then the disposables and also seem to hold the messes in better
• Cloth diapers are way cuter lol
• Better for baby and better for mommy.  Let me explain this one a bit better though.  As some of you know, my first son (Lucas) is allergic to disposable diapers.  In the hospital I brought this up to the new baby's (Daniel) doctor.  The doctor then checked Daniel's bottom and sure enough, he believes that Daniel is also allergic to the disposable diapers.  He had a diaper rash at one day old...poor thing.  They said it definitely was not me leaving him in a wet diaper very long (I went through so many bags of diapers there because I didn't want him getting a rash).  So...better for mommy too.

Cons

• Laundry out my butt!!!!  When you are trying to recover, the last thing you really want is more laundry, especially seeing that we do not have a washer and drier right now.  However, this is not THAT big of a deal to me...I would rather see my children happy.
• Hard to snap diaper to fit good because they are so squirmy for diaper changes at this age.
• If you have a boy and have him circumcised you need to remember to use liners.  Using the liners is kind of hard when they are so squirmy.  The liner moves around when you are trying to get the diaper snapped so you have to kind of reach in there to make sure it is at least catching where the pee pee area is.
• Harder to tell when your son is wet.  Obviously this is easy to fix by keeping track of diaper changes. Maybe cloth diapers should come with a simple line that changes colors too?  lol.  But because they do not pee all that much when they do go, it is a bit harder to know just by touching the diaper.

I hope this list helps you decide which way to go with your newborn.  Me, I will stick with my cloth diapers any day over the disposables.  Even though there seems to be more cons than pros, you have to weigh what is more important and to me it is my son's health and then the Earth's health...and maybe my pocket also lol.

Newborn Reviews

As I think you all know, there will be a big event coming up that has a bunch of newborn reviews and giveaways.  Unfortunately there were a few products that I never got a giveaway for, so I figured that I would still write up a little bit of a review on them just to help you mamas out that are still trying to figure out what you would like to get for your newborn.  Please note that these reviews were in no way sponsored by anyone, they are all products that I have purchased myself.  As always, my honest opinion is given! :-)  So, here we go....

Lil' Joey's Newborn AIO
These diapers are great for on the go diapers.  They require that you do not have to bring two different things to change your baby because they are an AIO and just like a disposable.  I have to say though that I am not completely happy with them.  The absorbency is so so.  I would not trust this diaper for longer periods of time. It is great for during the day and, like I already said, when you are out and about.  But you really need to keep an eye on these diapers.  Because they have the stay dry they are a little bit harder to realize that your baby has wet them, so just keep a good track of when you last changed your baby and you will be all set.  The drying time on them are not too awful bad, especially for an AIO.  They are also a bit more on the pricey side.  Also, even though these are made for newborns, please do not forget about their umbilical cord.  Even though it has a snap down option for the umbilical cord, when your child is in a more sitting up position (car seat, bouncy seat, etc)  it does tend to cover up the umbilical cord still.  So you need to make sure you check that also after your child is in those things.  This diaper is less bulky than say a prefold or a fitted diaper, however don't expect it to be like a disposable that fits perfectly under clothes.  No matter what diaper you choose to use with your newborn, remember that there will be extra bulk.  All together, I would recommend getting just a few of these for outings, but I would not recommend building a huge stash of them because of price and the fact that, like I said, I would not trust them for longer periods of time.

Gro-Via Newborn AIO
These diapers are another great diaper for on the go because of them being an AIO.  These diapers, however, are much more absorbent than the Lil' Joey's are.  They are also a bit larger so they will last a little bit longer.  These diapers are a bit more on the pricey side also and do have a long dry time.  However, if you were to build a stash of all the same diapers, I would recommend to build a stash with these.  Remember though that you will be paying a bit more than you would for prefolds and covers, but I really think it would be worth it.  I purchased 6 of these for my son's stash and actually wish I had a few more.  Out of all the diaper choices, these are my favorite.

Prefolds
What more can I say besides this is definitely the cheapest option and probably the easiest ones because prefolds are just so easy to care for.  However, I am not a big fan.  If you want to talk bulky, OMG prefolds are bulky!!!  Now, I am talking about Chinese Prefolds...during the Virtual Baby Shower I will be reviewing another kind of prefold made of bamboo and those are TRIM TRIM TRIM...but these are not.  I would recommend getting some of them to cut down on cost, but if you are an on the go mom, I would make sure to have a few AIO's in my stash so that you can at least get clothes to fit okay.

Arm's Reach Co Sleeper
Everyone, if you are planning on co sleeping, you will LOVE LOVE LOVE this.  I think this was our biggest, but BEST purchase that we made with this child.  I love having my son right there and tucked in next to me.  Not only that, it makes for easier nights and easier nursing.  I could see how this would be an even more "must have" if the mom had to have a c-section.  You don't even have to get out of bed to get your baby...just kind of roll with it.  This keeps your child right next to you without the normal worries of co-sleeping.  All in all, I would NEVER go without this product again!  So much better than a bassinet or a crib!!!

Beeswax Crayon Review and Giveaway Sponsored by Green Apple Supply

Today I am reviewing a set of 12 Beeswax Crayons supplied by Green Apply Supply.  My son LOVES to color.  I don't know if this is every child's dream, but I swear my son may be an artist one day.  When I got these in the mail, he could not wait to get into them.  He sat there for about a half an hour (he has a pretty good attention span for a two year old!) making his creations.  I have to say that these crayons seem to write much better than many other crayons do.  What I love about them is that they are triangular in shape which makes it so they can learn the proper grip also.

Now to tell you a bit about our sponsor.  The Green Apply Supply is a wonderful online store where you can get many different eco-friendly products and for relatively cheap also.  This would be the PERFECT back to school shopping center.  I know when my children start going to school this is where I will be doing most of my shopping.  It makes it so much easier than having to fight a million other moms out at Wal-Mart, plus you get the added benefit of everything being eco-friendly!!  

On their website, this is what they have to say in their "about us" tab:

As parents, we want the best for our kids.  And as global citizens, we are all faced with the responsibility to care for our planet, and each other.  What began as an endeavor to feed our family natural, organic foods has grown into a much larger enterprise.  We began to learn about potential dangers to our children, and the planet, in our cleaning supplies, household goods, office supplies…everywhere.  The worsening state of our environment, climate change, and increasing levels of toxins showing up in children’s bloodwork combined to create a great passion for exposing our family to only the cleanest, most wholesome products.  We were lucky to be able to provide only the best for our family, but we believe that every family should have access to the finest.
When we inquired as to why individuals were choosing traditional products rather than opting for eco-friendly versions, we were typically given one of two answers:
1.  Green products are too expensive.
2.  There are too many choices, and some are not effective.
By utilizing economies of scale, wholesale purchasing power, and personal product experience, we endeavor to make it easier for anyone to purchase Earth-friendly products.  We are keeping overhead low and this is a non-profit effort.  Products are sold as close to cost as we can, while still keeping the lights on. Why? Because we think it’s the right thing to do.

Stephanie & Robert ToborFounders

I found this company to have very fast shipping and they were also a very friendly place to work with.  I appreciate how patient they have been while I was working on this and having a baby at the same time.  They seem to have amazing customer service and I have always heard back from them in a very timely manner, so that shows me that they are on top of everything!  Seems to be an A+ place to shop!

BrainStrong Review and Giveaway

First of all, let me tell you a little bit about the BrainStrong products that are offered.  Please note that all this information was sent to me and are not my own words, I just feel that it is important to know all aspects of this product to understand it.

• BrainStrong Adult: Contains 900 mg of life'sDHA, the only source of DHA clinically shown to improve memory in adults over 55, plus L-theanine and green tea extract to naturally support mental sharpness and energy.  ($29.99 month's supply)
• BrainStrong Toddler: The first DHA supplement for toddlers made in a powder form so it can be mixed into such toddler favorites as milk, yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, mashed potatoes or macaroni cheese.  Contains 100 mg of DHA omega-3. ($16.99 month's supply)
• BrainStrong Kids: Great-tasting gummy supplement containing 100 mg of DHA (more DHA than any other over-the-counter kids supplement) plus other vitamins to help keep your child's brain functioning at its best. ($12.99 month's supply)
• BrainStrong Prenatal: Prenatal multivitamin and supplement.  Contains the most omega-3 DHA (350 mg) and folic acid (800 mcg) available without a prescription. ($19.99 month's supply).

What are the health benefits: DHA is one of the good fats found throughout the body.  It's a structural fat that goes straight to the tissues such as those in the brain, to keep them functioning to the best of their ability.  Just as calcium is essential for building strong bones, DHA ensures that the cells in the brain, retina, heart and other parts of the nervous system develop and function properly from infancy through adulthood.

Here is the great thing about this!  It is all vegetarian also!  So anyone with a vegetarian family can also use this product and not feel upset about using it.  When I gave this to my son, it was very easy to get him to take the whole amount needed.  I gave it to him in a cup of milk and he didn't even seem to notice it was there.  I know there is a lot of things that are hard to give him because, well, he is a toddler and likes everything the way it is already.  The instructions tell you to give one packet a day and each toddler formula comes in pre-packaged servings with 30 packages included in a box.  The pre-packaged servings make it much easier because you are not sitting there trying to measure everything out and making it even more obvious to your toddler that you are messing with their milk or food.  You can also now pick up BrainStrong at your local drug, food and mass retailers nationwide, including CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens and Wal-Mart making this a product to easily get your hands on!

Mulit Healing Balm Review and Giveaway

I was so excited to try this healing balm as soon as I got it in the mail.  As a lot of you know, I have been battling eczema with my son for a long time.  Things help it but nothing really seems to get rid of it except a steroid cream given by his doctor.  Now, I don't know about you, but I HATE using steroids on my son.  Even though my husband says it isn't that bad...I just hate it.  So, I decided to give this healing balm a test.  My son was itching really bad at his eczema and I put this on it.  It seemed like instant relief for him.  He immediately stopped itching.  I will not say that it completely took the eczema away (I would probably have to use a product for over a month with how bad it is) but it definitely relieves the itchiness of having this condition.

I then decided to try this for myself.  It says that it can help with muscle pain, so I decided to try it on my lower back.  I have to admit that it did relieve the pain!  It is awesome that one balm can help more than one person in the family.  Some other things that it should help are acne, dermatitis, stings, thrush, cold sores, inflammation, anti septic, cracked heals, booboos, small cuts and grazes, minor infection, cradle cap, mosquito bites, rashes, psoriasis, anti bacterial, scratches, minor burns, dry hands and bruises.  That is A LOT of uses just for one product!  Definitely something you would want in your medicine cabinet! 


Here are some words from the makers of this product: 

As a mother of four children, creator, Jodee Reid understands that all kids hurt themselves and as a parent we worry about how to treat minor skin injuries and prevent them from becoming bigger issues.From bruises to skinned knees and grazes Moms and Dads know that keeping the area clean and speedy healing is important.Multi Healing Balm cleans, heals and protects broken skin with its antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties.Made with New Zealand's native essential oils; Manuka and Kanuka which were used in traditional Maori medicine to 'heal' and known for their anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties makes Multi Healing Balm a perfect first defense against normal childhood skin injury.Quick and easy to apply in a 50ml tube Multi Healing Balm can be conveniently kept on hand in the home, car, purse or diaper bag - available when and where you need it.Multi Healing Balm can be used in so many instances including for diaper rash, itchy skin (mosquito bites, chicken pox, and minor eczema), bruising, minor cuts and scrapes and more.Multi Healing Balm is owned and operated by New Zealander Jodee Reid, a qualified esthetician, savvy business women and mother of four.  One of her children is Matisse Reid who captured the hearts of New Zealand's public due to a rare medical condition that meant she required a rare multiple organ transplant in the United States.  Jodee and her family now reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where her daughter continues to receive treatment.Despite the challenge of caring for an ill child, Jodee is a passionate and driven business woman who has established a loyal customer base and range or products including the BabyBaby range that they are continually developing to meet the demands of consumers.