Diaper Giveaway Winner!!!

We have a winner!!!

Random.org generated the number 15 (out of 28 possible winning comments)!

Becky said...

I follow MofA on FB - Becky Podolsky

Congrats Becky!  You will receive an e-mail from me and be contacted by Kellywells.com public relations to receive your FuzziBunz diaper!!!

If I don't hear back from Becky by Monday, another winner will be selected.  I'll let everybody know ; )

Cloth Diaper Book Review and Diaper Giveaway!

I was incredibly flattered when I was contacted by the marketing pros at KellyWels.com to review Kelly's book Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering.  I've been a reader of KellyWels.com for quite some time and have immense respect for Kelly.  She founded Diapershops.com and KellysCloset.com and has been a pioneer in the modern cloth diapering movement.  Needless to say, I was excited to read her new book AND host a cloth diaper giveaway!

First, the book...

Pics are gorgeous!  My first thought, honestly, was, "who are these adorable children and where can I get those diapers?!?"  If you love cloth diapering, if for no other reason, you need to have this book on your coffee table just for the pictures!  Such cuties!!

Okay, moving on to the text...  Chapter 1 is the information I've been trying to relay to friends and family since we decided to cloth diaper.  It goes over the costs, environmental impact, and "fun factor" of cloth versus disposable diapering.  I won't spoil the ending for you but, trust me, cloth diapers are better in every way and this chapter really breaks it down nicely. 

My favorite part of the book was Cloth Diapering 101.  A brilliant section that goes over all the names and abbreviations that can be so intimidating when you start cloth diapering!  There are also pictures and explanations as to the different types of diapers and how to use them.  It covers different fabrics that diapers are made of and how to use and wash them.  I wish I had had this section when I was first learning about cloth diapering because it's all the info I had to search for in one place!!

The rest of the book is stellar.  Kelly thought of everything.  There's a section on how to get your daycare to cloth diaper, traveling with cloth diapers, diapering multiples, and daddies and diapers (love!)!

I love that there's no sugar-coating in the book.  Cloth diapering has a learning curve and it has its problems that come up on the diapering journey.  We've dealt with some ammonia smell, detergent build-up, and nighttime leaks over the course of our 10 month diapering adventure.  All issues have been easily dealt with using the Internet and an open mind and the book helps troubleshoot some of the same problems. I love this on page 130, "Cloth diapers aren't fool-proof and have issues that will frustrate a mom from time to time, just like anything else."  Love the honesty and all of the tips and tricks throughout the book.

The one thing I wanted that wasn't included in the book was information on potty training!  I'm unfamiliar with the cloth training pants and I know that's in our future so I was hoping to learn a bit about that.  Perhaps in a future book, Kelly?

I was so impressed with Kelly's book, Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering.  I wholeheartedly recommend that, if you're interested in cloth diapering in the future, just getting started in the cloth diapering world, or want to learn more about cloth diapering you get your hands on this beautiful book!  It's easy to read, very informative, and lovely to look at.  A must have for cloth diaper newbies!

At Kelly's Closet there are lots of specials going on right now, including FREE diapers with purchase or the book for FREE with purchase so go check it out!! 

Now, for the awesome giveaway!  A MoA reader will win a FuzziBunz one-size diaper and a fun eco-friendly tattoo "I'm a Hip Mom and Love Cloth Diapers"!  You have one week to enter (contest closes end of day on Wednesday, October 26th).  Here's how to enter!!

1.  Follow the blog on Google Friend Connect (click the link under "Followers") and leave a comment telling me you do so!

2.  Follow MoA on facebook and leave a comment telling me you do so and what your facebook name is!

3.  Follow Changing Diapers on facebook and leave a comment telling me you do so and what your facebook name is!

Easy peasy!!  No go!  Do it!!  I'll announce the winner here and contact you via e-mail next Thursday!

Buy your own copy of the book at www.changingdiapersbook.com or www.kellyscloset.com!!

Thanks again to Kelly and her team for giving me the chance to read this awesome, adorable book!  It's got a permanent place on my end table for reference, conversation starting, and overall cuteness!  Please note that I was not compensated in any way for this review.  The thoughts are my own.  I was issued a complimentary copy of the book in order to provide honest feedback for my readers.  Please see my PR page for more info on reviews and giveaways.

Be Prepared, We're Going Political

Is it a faux pas to discuss politics on a blog that is about parenting, green living, and overall goodness?  Probably, but I'm doing it anyway.  I care dammit and it breaks my heart that my generation is generalized as an apathetic, lazy bunch of moochers who keep themselves uninformed in order to continue being said losers.  I believe those people exist mind you, I'm "friends" with lots of them on facebook, but I don't believe they are the majority.

Here's who I think are the majority...

I know the video quality isn't the best but the original isn't out there for me to find : (  Sadly, my generation (the 20somethings/30somethings) of today feel like our choices are limited...  and sucky...  We also have been brainwashed (don't ask by who because I honestly have no idea where we all got this from) that we as individuals cannot make a difference and that it takes a gazillion of us to get anything done.  In some ways this is, of course, true.  If you have a mob of thousands, you're going to be heard faster than one person screaming at the top of his or her lungs.  However, I believe that a well thought out plan enacted by an individual person can be more effective at making change happen than a mob that is easily written off as a group of apathetic, lazy moochers...  You know what I'm talking about here, I'm not going to give anyone the benefit of linking up to their ridiculous articles...

So...  yes, our choices are limited when it comes to voting for a candidate.  However, there are tons of issues on the ballot that need to be voted for or against as well!  So often we overlook the propositions for tax changes, library funding, job creation, even street construction because we're so focused on choosing between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich...

So, I don't care if you're conservative or liberal.  I couldn't care less if you're the 99% or the 1% or if you don't identify either way.  Think like I do or not, whatever, just THINK!!!  Educate yourself on the issues (not just the people) and make an impact by mailing in your ballot (seriously, voting couldn't be easier...  until they make a voting app for our iphones anyway, then it will be easier, but until then...).  Read a little bit of the fine print and maybe peruse a website or two and then vote.  Not for a Turd Sandwich or a Douche Bag but for a future, the future YOU want to see!

Because I Talk About Myself All the Freakin' Time

It's my blog so of course I talk about me in almost every post, right?  Well, that gets to be a little old for me.  I'm not very egocentric, I'm a yogi for goodness' sake!  I know my strengths and weaknesses and acknowledge them without (much) judgement (good or bad) most of the time.  So, why blog?  Why have a space dedicated to my ramblings about myself? 

Because I have stuff to say!  I have strong opinions and, be they wise or naive, I believe they are shared and I want a space to discuss them!  A place where we can talk amongst ourselves...

Anyway, today's post is not about me at all.  I'm writing today about my husband.  You can stop right here if you came to read about nursing bras, cloth diapers, or how I still haven't heard about that job...  Also, if you don't care to read about the awesomeness of my man, that's cool too.  I'll see ya tomorrow when I'm back on track, talking about myself ; )

This guy is one of the most incredible people I've ever known.  He's smart, funny, handsome, and he takes amazing care of me and our daughter.  We've been through some real challenges, issues that would have split most other people apart.  We've faced death, financial struggles, conflicts with each other's families, moves, and career changes together.  Every step of the way, Ryan has lead me (now us) through to the other side.  Not by ignoring the issue or changing the subject like so many men do, but by being sensitive, caring, and unafraid to really deal with shit.  The man is not afraid of feelings, let's be honest, and where this may have made him the butt of many a joke from the men in his family, for me, it makes him the ideal partner and father for our children.

I know that Ryan lives and breaths for his family.  He stays home as late as he possibly can in the morning to get as much time with us as possible.  He loves nothing more than to wear Emma on our morning walks (now that we have a better carrier than below, another post on that later) and enjoy her when she looks up into his eyes and smiles.

Ryan makes me laugh.  Every.single.day. 

And he gives all of himself to everything he does.  He works so hard and is so dedicated to everything he commits to, it's admirable.  The man does not call in sick to work EVER (it helps that we're really healthy people and we don't get hungover...), is never late to a commitment, and cares so very much about everything he does.  His work ethic and dedication to his job are something to be admired.

And he spoils us.  We can't afford much but Ryan makes sure we get to have a lot of fun.  He doesn't bat an eye when I ask him to take us out for lunch and he looks forward date nights and family outings as if they're the highlight of his life.  The day I thought my ipod broke, he already had a plan in place to get me a new one.  To prepare for my job interview, he encouraged me to spend some real money on great clothes that would make me feel incredible.  And when I say I want bar-b-que for dinner...  we're there before I can even ask...

I know that whatever challenges come our way, my sensitive, devoted, and brilliant husband will lead our family through.  And I'm so grateful.

Linking Up! Breastfeeding is Fashionable!

I'm linking up with the lovely and talented Sally at Exploits of a Military Mama and the brave and brilliant Blair at Wild & Precious and becoming a part of the Breastfeeding is Fashionable Series!  I'm so excited to be teaming up with these ladies and discussing this topic that you know is so near and dear to my heart.

Now, I've never been one to hide my bod.  Seriously.  Even at my heaviest and least-attractive feeling, I started a theatre group, put on a production of Lend Me A Tenor, and starred as Maggie (who removes most of her clothing in the second act).  I attribute this comfort with  nudity to several things.  My parents were NEVER weird about being naked at home.  I was never made to feel ashamed about my body and all my probing childhood questions were answered honestly and matter of factly.  No judgement.

In addition to our safe feeling household, I was a dancer.  I grew up taking tap and ballet classes and became a modern/jazz/ballet/lyrical/musical theatre dancer as a teen.  I also sang and acted in lots of plays in school.  Because I had both dramatic and dance ability, I was often double cast as a dancer AND as a character or part of an ensemble so I had lots of costume changes.  Costume changes that often took place just backstage without so much as a curtain for privacy because, let's be honest thoseclotheshavetocomeoffandthesehavetogoonrightthissecondoryou'regoingtomissyourcue.  I got naked in front of lots of classmates in the dimly lit backstage area...  sorry mom and dad...  the show must go on...

At any rate, being unafraid to parade around the house nude and learning to feel comfy stripping (for the sake of the show, hello!) in front of my peers has left me without much in the way of inhibitions in terms of my body as an adult.

This said, I have no problem breastfeeding in public.  I don't care where I am or who is around me, my baby needs to eat and no amount of desire to reduce self-exposure is going to stop me from taking care of her.

Some people are offended by my choice to not cover myself when I breastfeed.  Honestly, I don't have much to say to those people.  They have a problem with my child being nourished by me in public and I think that's sad for them.  Instead of getting all preachy, I'll let Kara be my voice:

So...  once everyone gets over the possible nip slip that probably didn't happen but you might have imagined it so I better apologize bullshit...  we can talk about the fashion of breastfeeding.

You already know I've struggled to find cute nursing clothes but we're not talking about that anyway.  I'm talking about the fashionableness (yes, it's a word) of the act of breastfeeding.  Fashion is beauty and caring for a baby is absolutely one of the most beautiful acts in the world.  Just as carrying Emma around in a snazzy carrier might be considered lovely, nurturing her and nourishing her as nature intended is just as exquisite.

And, thanks to my parents and a childhood in the theatre, I think I'm beautiful and have no problem maybepossiblyifEmmaliftsherheadatthewrongmoment exposing a tiny bit of side boob for the world to see.  It's a risk I'm willing to take to be part of the Breastfeeding is Fashionable Movement and give Emmaline the healthiest life possible!


Thanks so much to Sally and Blair for getting this going!  You ladies are incredible!

Please, if your opinion is like minded or different, leave respectful comments below.  If you have anything to say on the topic, I'd love to read it, but I ask that you be kind to all no matter what your views.  Offensive posts (of any opinion) will be removed at my discretion.  Thank you for being MoA readers and contributors!