Smartipants Review/Giveaway

 This giveaway is closed.

I recently received a diaper from the generous folks at Smartipants. I had heard about how wonderful they are so I couldn't wait to try it out. I was thrilled with the performance of the diaper. They truly are "Smarter than your average diaper"!

Smartipants diapers are trimmer than most cloth diapers so Gage can easily wear his normal pants over them. The way they are designed makes it so much easier to wash too. Most of my diapers are pocket diapers which I love but it can be gross pulling out the insert before you put it in the pail. You always get pee (and sometimes poo) on your hands, which is never pleasant. That for me is the worst part of using cloth. With Smartipants though there is an opening on both sides so there is no need to pull out the insert, they agitate out in the wash. No more pee fingers, YAY! 

More great things about Smartipants:

• The trimness doesn't affect the absorbency 
• I have never had a leak with Smartipants (and a 19 month old boy can pee a diaper full in no time)
• The opening for the insert is nice and wide, making it easier to stuff.
• The fit is very snug
• The price of these diapers is amazing. $14.95 for a single diaper and $39.95 for a 3 pack makes Smartipants a very economical choice when considering cloth. Most diapers are around $20-$25.

• The 3 packs come in color coordinated combinations.  You can get a set for girls, boys or gender neutral. I think that is great if you're buying them as a gift. 

The only thing I would change if I could would be the color selection. The colors they have are great. My favorite is the green, but I would like to see more colors. Maybe a bit more bold like red, orange, or black, prints would be awesome too! 

Now let's get down to the fun part. Smartipants is so kind to offer one of these amazing diapers to one of my readers. If you can't wait that long to try one, head on over to their website and buy 1, or maybe even 3!

Here's how you can win:       

1. Go to check out Smartipants and tell me why you want to win one of these diapers and what color you would choose if you won. (You must do this entry first or the rest will not count)
2.  Follow my blog (1 entry)
3. Subscribe to my blog (2 entries) (leave 2 comments like I subscribe #1 and #2)
4. Become my Facebook friend!(1entry)
5. Become a fan of Smartipants on Facebook (1entry)
6. Grab my new button and tell me where I can find it (1 entry)
7. Follow me on twitter and leave your twitter name in your comment (1entry)
8. Follow Smartipants on twitter (1 entry)
9. Blog about this giveaway, leave the URL of where to find it in your comment (3 entries)
10.  Tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet. You can do this 3 times a day. Leave the permalink of your tweet in your comment) feel free to copy and paste the following:  

 Enter to win a Smartipants cloth diaper from @MySillyBoys and @TheSmartipants!

http://bit.ly/d59R38 (ends 2/7) #clothdiapers #giveaway

A couple more just for fun:

    11. How long have you been cloth diapering? (1 entry)
    12. Are you planning on watching the Super Bowl? If so, what team are you rooting for? (1 entry)

 Just a couple more things:

Please, please, please leave your email in your comment in this format: myemail at blah dot com so I can contact you if you win. If you don't do this, you'll be responsible for checking back here when I post the winner. If I am not contacted within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner. 

This giveaway ends Sunday, Feb 7th at midnight EST. 

Any other entries after that time will be deleted 

That's it. Enjoy and good luck to you!

Snow's on the way!

So we are supposed to be getting a big snow storm today. They're thinking we'll get about a foot of snow tonight. About a month ago, it snowed 16 inches! To see some pics go here.

Last time we weren't really prepared. It usually doesn't snow that much here. Everybody we knew lost power. Most of them for a whole week. My SIL was melting snow to rinse out baby bottles! It was sooo bad. Luckily out power never went out so we just enjoyed playing in the snow. Gavin and hubby tried to go sledding down a big hill in the front yard but since we usually don't get enough snow to sled in, we have never bothered buying one. They tried sledding on a big lid off one of those huge Christmas tubs that you put decorations and stuff in. Needless to say, it didn't work!

So this time we knew it was going to come, the weather guy said that it looked like it was going to be similar to the last storm. I went out yesterday to the store for some groceries (It was packed BTW) and then started my search for a sled. Just so you know, NEVER try to find something like that last minute. It's no fun at all.

I had planned on going to Toys R Us but Kmart was closer so I thought I'd try that first. No luck, they had no winter toys out. They had water guns out already. I headed over to Toys R Us, nope. They had swimming pools but no sleds, or anything else remotely winter like. Next is Lowes, I figure why not? Better just check, no luck. Northern tool? Uh-uh.

Keep in mind I done all this with the groceries in the back of the car. Including milk, cheese, all that good stuff. Gavin was whining because he wanted a sled. I told him we'd go home, put up the food & then call around trying to find one.

We get home & I called Dick's sporting goods. Duh, if anyone would have a sled they would. The lady said they had 2 long ones and a few round ones left but they were going quick. I said well I guess I'd better hurry huh? Then being the awesome customer service person she is offered to hold one of the big ones for me. I wish I'd gotten her name to call her supervisor and compliment her!

So hubby decides he'll go with us and we get there and first just try to find where the sleds are because we really didn't think she would actually hold it for us. Usually places say that and just don't do it. We couldn't find them. We walked up to this girl near the checkout and ask where they are at. She says we're out, they're all gone. So I say I called a little bit ago and she interrupted and said OH, you're the one that wanted the 2 person one aren't you? I said yeah, that was me. She goes behind the counter and pulls out this really awesome looking sled and said, these went so fast, I actually got yelled at because someone saw it behind the counter and wanted it but I told them they couldn't  have it! I thought that was the sweetest thing! She got cussed out by another customer but she still held that sled for me so my boys could have fun in the snow!

I looked at hubby (who didn't think I needed to call) and said aren't you glad I called? He said yeah, I'm really glad you called now. I hadn't been but about an hour from the time I called to the time we got to the store. They were sold out in that short amount of time.

I'm still really annoyed that all the other stores found it necessary to put out SUMMER stuff in the middle of January. They put all the snow stuff up by the time it actually starts snowing. But that doesn't matter now, we got our sled and that's all that matters.

Sneaking in some ice cream...

I swear I'm not making this up!

I swear on my life I'm not making this up! My husband told me I lied when I told him what Gage, my 19 month old said.

He was eating dinner and talking to himself when I heard him say, one, two, three. That wasn't that big of a deal. I knew he could count to 3. He can even count to 3 in Chinese (Thank you Ni Hao, Kai-Lan!)

So I bent down to his level and went one... he said two... three... I said four... he said five... I said six... then he said seben. (he said it so cute!)

I pretty much freaked out! I didn't think to keep going, I was just amazed that he counted to seven! I ran in the library where hubby was and told him. He asked me if I kept counting with him and I said no I got excited and ran in here! So he says here watch this. He goes in the dining room and tries to get him to say it again. Nope. Every time hubs says a number, Gage holds up a chicken nugget and says EAT!

Hubby looks at me and says, he didn't say it. You're making it up. Why would I make something like that up? I wanted to smack him. As soon as hubby leaves the room, he did it again. Of course he did.

I called my mom to tell her what happened. Then I sit down in front of him with her on the phone and he did it again all the way to 9! Hubby came back in, sat down, and tried yet again to make Gage do it in front of him. Again Gage refused. This time though he stuck his finger in the chicken nugget and holding it up for hubby to see! I told him I had a witness that time though! My mom heard it perfectly! I'm going to try to get it on video next time to share with you all, it was so cute!

I had no idea he could do that! He surprises me every day with the things he does.

Update:

I have an update on my friend that was hospitalized yesterday for preeclampsia at 36 weeks. She went to the Dr. yesterday when they discovered she had preeclampsia & sent her on to the hospital. That's really all I knew until just a few minutes ago.

Her BP was 147/98 yesterday. It's came down some as did the swelling. She has protein in her urine so they're keeping her to keep an eye on that. They said the baby is fine, he looks to be a good size. They are going to do another ultrasound. She'll probably get to come home either today or tomorrow.

They are talking about possibly inducing Wednesday. Prayers for her and the baby. Also for her mom who's a wreck right now! I know I would be too!

Also a quick update on my papaw who's also in the hospital. He had the pacemaker put in yesterday. The surgery went well but didn't go exactly as planned. While the surgeon was putting it in, they found a birth defect that kept them from putting it where they had planned on, but they improvised and it all turned out fine. Hopefully he can come home soon too. Keep praying for him too please.

My stash

I haven't written a cloth diaper post in awhile so I thought I'd give you guys an update.

There's not really much to report. Everything's been going great, I haven't had many problems with it.

I am in LOVE with cloth diapering. I would have never thought I could be addicted to cloth diapering, but I am. I really actually enjoy it. Who could think anything to do with diapering is fun, but it is!

I've managed to slowly get a small stash built up. That has been the hardest part for me, getting the money to buy enough diapers. I guess it didn't help that I was very late in starting cloth. It probably would've been easier if I had started before he was born. But better late than never right?

The most addictive part for me is trying different brands. I love comparing them: different types (pocket, AIO, fitted, prefold, covers...), how they fit, the colors & patterns different brands have, how they snap. I'm on a mission to try every cloth diaper I can!

I've built up to 28 diapers, a mix of pockets, AIO's, covers, and fitteds. I also have a few prefolds and 2 wetbags. (1medium & 1 large). The picture only has 24 in it, I've bought a few since taking the pic!

I love the little boy patterns!

(The country, redneck part of me loves the deer camo and tractors!)

The diapers I currently have are:

1 BumGenius

1 GadBaby

1 Knickernappies

3 Smartipants

2 Fuzzi Bunz

1 Softbums w/ 4 inserts

1 Babyland

6 Nubunz

2 Three Monkeys

1 Monkey Snuggles

1 ES Baby fitted

1 Tiny Tush contour

2 WAHM fitteds

2 MSMDcb

1 Haute Pockets

1 Bumkins cover

1 Thirsties cover

So there you have it. I do need some more but I have enough now that I don't have to wash every day. 2 of the diapers are mediums and Gage is about to outgrow them.

I didn't think there was a cloth diaper store anywhere near where I live so I've been buying online. Which is more expensive with shipping and everything. But I was just told by someone on twitter who lives near me that there actually are a few here. She listed them and it turns out that one is actually 5 MILES from my house! 5 miles! Are you kidding me?! I've looked online for a local store and came up with nada. This store has a website and everything! I don't know how I missed it! I've refrained from going all week but I'm headed there tomorrow. I have a feeling I'm going to get in trouble there! I've never been in an actual cloth diaper store so I know I'm going to go crazy with the buying! They do have other things as well, they're an organic toy, clothing, diapering type of store. I can't wait! Wish me luck & hopefully it won't be the end of my marriage ;) LOL.. kidding. I'll have to control myself!

I leave you with a picture of Gage,

He doesn't look amused...

Where does he get this stuff?

I haven't written a post in awhile, my blog has been under construction. There is a huge list of stuff I want to blog about but I have to write this one first or I'll forget to.

My crazy, silly, amazingly smart little 3 year old boy. Where do you come up with the things you say? I have NO idea!

I can't understand where he gets the things he says. He says and does things I swear a 3 year old shouldn't say or do.

Here is just 2 examples of his... I don't even know what to call it. Craziness? No, some of the things he says actually make sense (at least to him they do) Silliness? Not really, he seems silly to me but in these 2 examples he was completely serious. He was just making, um, observations. Well, seeing as I don't know what to call it, I'll let you be the judge:

Last night he was watching Cloudy with a chance of meatballs (his new favorite movie, he'd watch it all day long if I let him.) It went off and he suddenly comes up to me and says "It doesn't rain hamburgers... That's not natural." Yes he said That's not natural. How does he know what that means? I am clueless. He was dead serious too. So I tried not to laugh as I said, no honey that's not natural. But on the inside, I was rolling on the floor!

Fast forward to this evening. I was folding laundry in the living room when Gavin says Oh, I have to pee. So he runs off to the potty. (BTW I'm loving the fact that he can go pee by himself now, it's awesome!) I go about my business folding towels when I look up and see Gavin walking toward me with a look of utter amazement on his face. Then he says kinda excitedly "MAMA, the pee comes out of my spray hole!" He pauses and looks down (his pants are already up but he's looking I guess to remember what it looked like? I dunno) then says "It looks like a circle". Now, in the story above, I was able to hold in my laughter somewhat. Tonight that wasn't happening. At first I was a bit shocked like, did he just say that? Then I really comprehend what he said and couple that with the pride on his face from figuring all that out by himself and I lost it. I  covered my face and and started rolling with laughter. I couldn't stop. I had tears streaming down my face. I may have even snorted once or twice, I can't remember! He comes over to me with a look of pure innocence and says "what are you laughing at mama?" Which of course makes me laugh even harder. I couldn't stop long enough to tell him why I'm laughing. So he asks again and then again. Finally I control myself long enough to blurt out YOU. He says "you laughing at me?" I say yes and he asks "why are you laughing at me?" I just say (still chucking) because you're so cute! Then he gets that cute, sneaky little smile so I pick him up and say I love you so much, you're so funny.

Oh my Gavin, my sweet, silly Gavin. You really know how to make mommy's day. You say the most outrageous, crazy, silly, sometimes embarrassing things but you make me so happy. I am so blessed to have such a smart, funny little guy. Even when you do something that makes me so mad, I can never stay mad too long because you always know how to make me smile. 

And with that I'll leave you one of Gavin's many silly pictures:

Well, maybe two

 

Okay three then cause he's cute

I love you little dude 

Blog Work is now finished

To all of you.. thanks so much for your patience while I worked on Jamie's blog for her... Hope you all enjoy the new layout & New stuff..

May God bless you all in 2010!!

RISSA