I’m taking the flats and handwashing challenge!
I am officially announcing that I am taking the challenge!
Starting Monday 5/20 and ending Sunday night 5/26, I will be only using Flat cloth diapers and handwashing them only!
You can keep up with our challenge journey because I will be posting about it each day this week! You can find out more about the Flats and Handwashing Challenge from our event host Dirty Diaper Laundry!
Tomorrows topic: ”Why are you Taking the Challenge?”
One of our fantastic sponsors for Summer Splash is Bubba Brands!
Bubba is the leading company in the “thermal hydration” industry. What does that mean? I’ll let them explain that here:
think of bubba brands as you would your friend, your best friend, someone that is reliable, trustworthy, friendly, dependable, approachable, sociable and a good companion. someone you can count on through thick and thin. it is our desire to have bubba products go along with you in your life. bubba will be there for you no matter what you are doing. whether you are at work, driving in the car, working out at the gym, relaxing at home, doing yardwork, watching tv, hanging out with family or partying with friends, bubba is there.
The Technology
Bubba has a patented design that is easy to recognize. Their Keg shape is iconic! Their stainless steel products are made with food grade Steel that is meant to bring you rust proof, odorless and tasteless BPA free products! Their BPA free plastic products are made a of a patented copolyester. This brings you dishwasher safe, impact/temperature/odor/taste/stain resistant products!
There are three different types of insulations that bubba uses.
- Double walled: 2 climate barriers that reduce temperature transfer
- Double walled foam insulation: Same as the double walled insulation but the space is filled with a foam insulator
- Double walled stainless steel vacuum insulation: A vacuum is pulled between two walls of stainless steel, eliminating the possibility of temperature transfer. This is the most advanced technology available!
I received 3 different products to share with you! The first is the 24 ounce Envy Tumbler. This tumbler is a great size for having a cool drink with you on the go! I often run errands with the 2 little kids and it is very necessary to bring a cold drink along in Arizona! The insulation is good enough to let me leave a drink in the car for a few minutes without it being HOT when I return. I recently took the Envy Tumbler with me to work for an 8 hour shift. The ice stayed solid for approximately 2 hours in the air conditioned store. That is much longer than the normal 30 minutes in a regular cup or water bottle. After the ice melted the drink (water) stayed cold for the next 3-4 hours when I finished drinking it. I would normally drink two 24 ounce cups/bottles in one day.
The Envy Tumbler uses the double walled insulation so it works great for what I use it for. I would say that if you worked outdoors or were taking an outdoor hike I would go with something with one of the more advanced insulation methods. But indoors it keeps its cool fantastically!
The Envy Tumbler is dishwasher safe and doesn’t sweat! It also fits in most vehicle cup holders. It fit perfectly in the cup holder of my Nissan Titan.
My favorite thing about the Envy Tumbler is that is works great with hot OR cold beverages!
I also received the 24 ounce Hero Sport Bottle. This is my favorite of the three I received and I will tell you why! At 9 am I filled it with ice cubes and water. I took it to work. After drinking all of the water the ice wasn’t melting. I am used to the ice melting and being able to drink that! I had to refill it a couple of times. During my lunch break I went out to my truck. I left the bottle in my truck! I knew for sure I would have melted ice. 2 hours later I went on a short break and grabbed it out of my truck. While it was hot on the outside, there was still ICE inside!! The temperature outside was 100 degrees! I can only imagine what the temperature inside my truck was and it was in there for 2 whole hours! I was telling everyone at work, they were all in shock too. Fast forward to the next morning… I opened the bottle to fill it up again and it still had ice cubes in it! They had melted a bit but, wow! The Hero Sport Bottle kept my ice frozen for over 24 hours!
The Hero Sport Bottle is made using the vacuum insulation method between 2 stainless steel walls. This bottle is also dishwasher safe and sweat proof! The only thing I missed with this bottle is that it is not intended for hot beverages.
The last bottle I received is the 16 ounce Hero Grip in Lilac. This is the same as the 24 ounce Hero with an added benefit of the grip and that it is intended for either hot or cold beverages. This bottle is the perfect size for coffee on the go in the morning, or hot chocolate for the kiddos. It fits great in my cup holder.
The Hero Grip is made with the double walled vacuum insulation which keeps your hot beverages hot for 6 hours and cold beverages cold for 12 hours.
Overall, I love all of the items that we were sent to review! They all have a great look and feel and work great for their intended purpose. I just can’t believe how long the ice lasted in the 24 ounce Hero Bottle. These are definitely something your family would benefit from no matter where you live, what season it is and how active you are. I would have loved for them all to be made for hot as well as cold.
Connect with Bubba
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Find a retailer near you
Win Bubba Brand products!!
In our Summer Splash giveaway package Bubba Brands is giving away a basket full of Bubba bottles and mugs!
Hop over to our Summer Splash giveaway page to see the whole package and enter to win! Good Luck!
22 Creative Uses for Coffee Filters
Photos are not taken by Teen Toddler Newborn. They are property of the blogs who contributed to this post.
Recently I was cleaning out the pantry and found an almost new package of coffee filters (basket style)! We have since bought a new coffee maker that requires a different kind of filter (cone). I don’t want to waste them so I searched out some ideas on what to do with them. Thanks to the bloggers who offered ideas as well as some awesome Facebook fans here is what we came up with:
Crafty things to do with Coffee Filters:
- A wreath from The Worley House
- A Heart Garland from See Vanessa Craft (can be adapted based on season)
- Use straws or droppers to dot diluted food coloring on the filters. Air dry. Take a clothes pin and scrunch filter in half. Use a black marker to draw eyes and mouth on your butterflies!
- Butterfly magnet clips from Mom Endeavors
- let the toddlers color on them with markers, spray them with water and cut them into shapes for the season. When they’re dry, hang them on a window.
- Make snowflakes in winter
- Beautiful and realistic roses from Emmalee Design
- A fun Cinco de Mayo decoration that can be adapted to any color scheme from A to Zebra Celebrations.
- Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
Household Tips:
- Taco holders!
- Compost them!
- Strain cooking grease and catch the bits you want to keep
- Strain Yogurt
- Cover food in the microwave preventing splatters!
- Use instead of paper towels on windows, streak free and lint free!
- When using various small parts for a project, separate them into coffee filters to keep them from rolling away
- Add a tablespoon or so of Baking Soda and tie with twine for an odor absorbent in the trash can, fridge, shoes, closet, etc.
- Put a coffee filter in the bottom of a potted plant to keep dirt from falling out. (In the pot, before the dirt)
- A coffee filter will work well to de-silk an ear of corn. Dampen a filter and wipe it in one stroke from the top to the bottom of the shucked ear of corn.
- To sprout seeds, dampen a coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag.
- Wrap cut celery stalks in a coffee filter before putting them in a plastic bag to store in the refrigerator. The coffee filter will help absorb any moisture, and keeps the celery crisp longer.
- Wrap Christmas ornaments for storage
Summer Splash Sponsor Spotlight for BabyBanz
Another great sponsor for Summer Splash is Baby Banz! They are sponsoring a pair of baby/kids sunglasses in our giveaway package!
In an ever deteriorating UV climate, Baby Banz is steadfast in its ongoing effort to preserve the sensitive eyes and precious skin of little ones everywhere. Baby Banz is committed to developing children’s UV protective sunglasses, hats, accessories and swimwear that not only protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but are also comfortable, fun to wear and strong enough to last.
Our family is mostly fair-haired and fair-skinned. This means we need protection from the sun more than your average person. Or I suppose we are just more aware because if we aren’t careful we burn, badly. Most people don’t think much about protecting your eyes! Think about it: your eyes age just as the rest of your body, you protect your skin don’t you? It is absolutely true that your eyes can be saved from vision loss later in life by simply wearing sunglasses when outdoors!
Baby Banz sent us a pair of wrap around style sunglasses for the newborn to review. We love the idea of getting him used to wearing them. Most babies don’t like things on their face or head so it is important to get them used to it. I’m hoping this will begin a habit that will be ingrained in his personality. Just like brushing his teeth or combing his hair.
The pair that I requested to review are the Ultimate Banz. I chose these mostly because I like the silicone padding at the bridge of the nose. I want my baby to be protected but I also want him comfortable.
The newborn still is getting used to having them on when we go out but after a few minutes he stops trying to take them off. He started wearing them at just before he turned 3 months old so they were a bit loose at the smallest setting on the band.
The neoprene band is very comfortable for him. It adds some comfort and when his head grows more into it the stretch will keep the glasses from falling down. I also like that the back is wider. The width of the back prevents any indentation or irritation on the back of his head.
These Baby Banz are very well constructed. The durability is a great feature! We have tossed these in the diaper bag several times, he tugs at them some and there are no signs of wear on them.
Overall I would definitely recommend them to any parent! These are fantastic and very important for your child’s eye health!
Connect with Baby Banz
Become a fan on Facebook
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Win a pair!!!
Make sure to enter to win the whole prize package that will get your family having a fun summer together, outside and safe! The giveaway is now open! Please ENTER HERE!
Summer Splash Giveaway Hop! $275 Value! US only.
A bunch of great blogs have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer… with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner. Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize!
So what’s this Grand Prize we’re talking about? Thanks to Trex Outdoor Furniture, one very lucky winner is going to win a Yacht Club 3-Piece Rocker Set valued at $1,317! Made in the USA and constructed of durable HDPE recycled lumber, this Rocker Set is sure to help you slow down and relax this Summer and for many years to come!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!!!
Summer Splash Sponsor Spotlight for Green Toys
Summer Splash is coming up! I am very excited to bring you an awesome package to get your family outside, together this summer! This feature is all about our sponsor Green Toys! Green Toys provided a sample for me to share our family’s experience with you!
Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.
Their toys are not only made from 100% recycled materials (mostly milk containers). They are also packaged in 100% recycled cardboard and are made in the USA.
We got some toys to play with and tell you about! They sent us an EcoSaucer and Jump Rope! The girls had a blast “testing” them out at the Great Cloth Diaper Change:
We love toys that keep us active. There are a lot of times when we are all (mom and dad included) too plugged in! Someone is always on a cell, computer, Kindle or watching TV! This summer we are definitely taking some time to get outside and PLAY! It gets pretty hot around here so it is easy to get stuck inside, especially when it is 110 degrees outside, or higher. We are planning to take some day trips to the lake and get out of the heat using the items in this giveaway event.
The EcoSaucer is thicker than most “flying disks” that you are used to. This makes it more durable. I have several that my dog has chewed up into bits. There is no way that is happening here! This EcoSaucer is very durable. I would trust it enough to leave it in the backyard with the dog. It performs very well and The Toddler was even able to catch it a couple of times. I had some trouble gripping it the way I have become used to, which I think is due to the fact that it is thicker. A fun toy that can be enjoyed by many at the same time!
The Jump Rope was also a lot of fun. Of course the Toddler isn’t quite old enough to use it on her own but She had fun trying to learn from her big sister. The Jump Rope is very well made. The rope is soft and very pliable. It is not a regular nylon rope. Because it is so much softer I am inclined to think that it will wear down quickly. So far, after many uses it isn’t showing as much wear as I thought it would!
The Green Toys we received are awesome! I highly recommend them to any parent, caregiver or gift giver! This is such a great way to get kids moving and help save our garbage from ruining the planet!
Connect with Green Toys
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Pinterest
Win it!!!
Win a set of these toys for your family to enjoy in the Summer Splash Giveaway package! This giveaway starts tomorrow! Make sure to follow by email (sign up on the right side) so you don’t miss out!
About the company: Summer Infant was started in 1985 by William Lockett III after he needed a safe place to put his daughter, Summer, while he was busy doing other things. He started by inventing the original Bouncy Seat and thus the company was born. Their long-standing tradition to the dedication of infants and children was born and they continue today to strive to providing the safest and most reliable products available. Summer Infant is genuinely committed to designing, developing, crafting, and creating the safest products with integrity, ingenuity, and safety in mind. From their bathtubs to cribs, you can feel safe knowing your baby is in a Summer Infant product. Don’t believe it? Check out their DOZENS of awards that speak for themselves.
We are a babywearing family. While I knew I was going to babywear, I didn’t know it would be because Baby Skibbles actually wouldn’t let me lay her down anywhere. While now at almost 6 months old, she is getting better, I still have trouble. Because I was stuck with always wearing her so she would sleep, I was thrilled to be given the chance to review Summer Infant’s Resting Up Napper. I was desperate for a few minutes of alone time and figured anything was worth a shot!
I was so excited when the box arrived at the door. I quickly pulled it out and saw that it came in just a few different pieces. While I didn’t exactly want to wait, I did wait until Andrew got home so he could put it together for me. He said it was super easy to figure out and one of the simplest things he has put together for us.
Before I put the baby inside, I played with it a bit. It features a 3 point harness to ensure that the baby doesn’t go anywhere. In the center front of the napper is an easy to push vibration, which helps babies relax more with the constant motion. One either side there are also levers for folding so you can travel with something light and compact. The plush, super soft material completely covers the sides with velcro so our baby can’t get hurt. The entire cover is also removable so you can machine wash it! It’s also breathable, and because there is no hardware underneath, there is no risk of mold!
I’ll be the first to admit, I was a bit hesitant about trying it because we have something pretty similar, but Baby Skibbles has refused to sleep in it since she was just a few weeks old. But, I put all fear aside and went for it. One day, after nursing, she fell asleep in my arms, so I walked over, and turned on the vibration. I laid her down inside the Resting Up Napper and her eyes immediately popped open. Of course, right!?!? I was about to shoot myself because this meant she was going to wake up and be fussy from not sleeping. But NO!! She closed her eyes and fell back to sleep. I was literally shocked. So shocked, in fact, I immediately text Andrew and told him. Of course, he didn’t believe me either. A few days later he was off work and I laid her down inside the Resting Up Napper in front of him. Same thing happened- her eyes popped open, then closed and back to sleep she went. He came out of the bedroom and said “Wow, why didn’t we get one of these sooner!?” My thoughts exactly! I wish I would have known about this sooner because it has really been a lifesaver for me.
Even though is says birth-5 months. Baby Skibbles at 5 months still looks very comfortable in it and has some room to grow. I do make sure since she can roll now that I’m always close by when she wakes up. I love that it is low to the ground because it seems more secure. The material is so soft that I wish my sheets were made with the same material. I was actually contemplating asking Summer Infant to make an adult size blanket out of it!
Improvements: The vibration does have an automatic timer that turns itself off. I wish that there was a way for me to set how long this time was on my own inside of just waiting for it to turn off. One day, Baby Skibbles woke up as soon as the vibration stopped, so it would be nice to keep it on if that was my preference.
WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win themselves their own Summer Infant Resting Up Napper! Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will be up until 5/25/13 at 12:00am EST. Open to US residents only! Good luck!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM!!!
