To Spray or Not To Spray – That is the Question!

For 15 months we chose not to use a diaper sprayer out of pure frugality – I didn’t see the need to spend any money when our ‘system’ for dealing with poop was still working.  Then one fine day a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer (thanks Diapers, Etc) showed up in my mailbox and I HAD to give it a try.  I immediately assumed my gender neutral position and decided that I could install this simple piece of plumbing equipment, right?  Neither hubs or I are incredibly handy but the diaper sprayer came with all of the pieces and simple, easy to follow instructions to install. 

I stepped into the bathroom and conducted a test – I turned off the water supply from behind the toilet and flushed to see if the tank emptied as the directions said it would.  Then I flushed again, and again – HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!  We’ve feared for months now that we may have had a slight leak in the toilet (house was built in the 80′s and the bathrooms are ANCIENT!) – this confirmed my fear.  We’ve talked for months about completely over hauling both bathrooms to make them a little more modern (and a little less Florida Grandma style) but we are stingy with our money and keep putting it off (OK – we’re lazy)! 

So for weeks this beautiful diaper sprayer sat in a basket above the toilet waiting for the day I would fix our leak.  Oddly enough about a month later we experienced another leaky situation – our kitchen sink sprung a leak that needed to be repaired immediately!  When talking with the repairman (who happens to be a family friend) I asked about the other leaks in the house and how difficult it would be to fix those while we’re at it.  So one fine summer day we finally got all of our leaks repaired – and a new kitchen sink to boot!  He was even kind enough to install my lovely diaper sprayer for me – which according to him “took him seconds to install.” 

The Aftermath:

Now I have a diaper sprayer that still sits peacefully in the bathroom waiting to be used.  It’s installed but it rarely get’s used – at least to the capacity I would have anticipated it being used.  There are two issues that arise really:

1. My daughter RARELY poops at home!  She is at a babysitters house all day and LOVES to poop at her house.  She will honestly hold in her poop all weekend when she is home with us so she can poop at the sitters.  It’s actually not a bad problem to have – afterall no one really enjoys poop do they?

2. FORCE!  The force behind the diaper sprayer is actually incredibly strong.  It seems like everytime I use it I struggle to keep the water IN the toilet – leaving me with a wet messy bathroom to clean up.  This is actually a ”Like” and a “Dislike” – the extra force really helps remove that sticky nasty in-between solid poop. 

I guess I’m a “No Spray” girl - we normally use flushable liners in our diapers, especially if she’s been holding it in for a while.  That way most of the poop can be removed with a simple plop into the toilet.  Then whatever is left gets rinsed off in the sink (and yes, I’ll sanitize the sink when I’m done) before I put the diaper in the dirty pail.  Maybe if we had started with the sprayer in the early days of easy, breastfeeding poop it may have come in handy.

Diapers, Etc:  I realized after doing some homework on Diapers, Etc that they are actually a local company – they are located in Lutz, FL.  They sell a variety of cloth diapers, diapering accessories and an assortment of organic and eco-friendly baby products.   

BUY IT:  Want to buy your own diaper sprayer and judge for yourself, visit Diapers, Etc.  The Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer sells for $43.99 – add a few new cloth diapers to your order to be eligible for free shipping on orders over $75.

WIN IT:  Want to win your very own Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer – compliments of Diapers, Etc.?  To be entered to win you MUST leave me a comment below telling me how you handle the poop in your house – do you spray, dunk, swish, etc?  Be sure to tell me WHY you want to win a diaper sprayer in your comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. 

BONUS POINTS:  Earn one extra bonus point for each of the following – leave a comment for EACH bonus step you complete. 
1. Twitter Love to @TheEcoChic, @DiapersEtc, and @EcoChicParties
2. Check us out of Facebook – and if you ‘Like’ what you see then ‘Like Us’
3. Tweet about this giveaway including a link back to this post. 

RULES:  Winner must be over the age of 18 and a resident of the continental United States.  Giveaway will close on September 15th, 2010.  Winner will be contacted using the email address they register with and must confirm their winnings within 48 hrs of notification.  Prize is provided by Diapers, Etc. 

Disclosure: In case you didn’t realize it already – Diapers, Etc. provided me with a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer for review.  Your results may vary and you may fall madly in love with your diaper sprayer.  Either way - show a little love to Diapers, Etc because they are nice people. 

Do you get the ecoStore USA monthly newsletter?  Did you see who was selected as the August Mom Blogger of the Month?  ME!!!  Here is a copy of what they wrote about your’s truly:

Adorable. Smart. Fun. Sweet. Four words that describe our new friend Calley Pate! Mama of two children who is passionate about doing her part to be green and role model for her children how to take care of Mother Earth! Full-time working mom who obviously has a ton to balance like all moms and she does it like a pro! If you read The Eco Chic (and you should) you’ll learn all about cloth diapering, making trash into treasures, politics and so much more! If you follow her on Twitter you’ll for sure learn all about what cloth diapers to use, how to wash them (she uses ecoStore USA laundry soap), how they save you money and why they’re good for the environment.
 
We met Calley in NYC at the Green Soiree and immediately clicked; she really is adorable, smart, fun and sweet! We love her passion and love for the ocean, the environment, her family and now blogging! Keep up the great work Calley, you inspire us to do better!

Didn’t get their newsletter?  Click here to read more and subscribe to get upcoming newsletters in your inbox.

I had the honor of meeting Vice President of Operations, Lyne Appeal Downing, at the Green Blogger Soiree (hosted by the fabulous Safe Mama and 3 Green Angels) in NYC.  Lyne has wonderful energy and I really enjoyed spending time with her (and her team of bloggers – Sommer and Maggie – who work with her on different projects).  This was Lyne and I at the Green Affair party later in the week – excuse the poor picture quality – it was taken on my iPhone.

Earlier in the day while touring the city with @LoneK8 we stopped in the Duane Reed <one of the retail stores that sell ecoStore USA on the East Coast/New York area> drug store across the street from the hotel and I took this picture – this was the first time I’ve seen ecoStore USA products in a real life store!  I know - I get excited over the strangest things!  After talking with Lyne at BlogHer it was exciting to hear that she wants to see ecoStore USA products in retail stores all across the US in the next three years.  I would LOVE to be able to purchase them locally.

But until then – we can all get their great products online at www.ecostoreusa.com.  As always they offer FREE shipping on all orders of $25 or more and if you shop during their Back to School Sale you can save 25% off your order. 

Have you tried ecoStore USA products before? Which items are your favorite?  My favorites include their ENTIRE line of baby care products, their laundry detergent, and dog shampoos. 

Disclosure:  ecoStore USA was a sponsor of the Green Soiree <and provided us with product samples in our swag bags> and has sponsored The Eco Chic blog by offering products for review in the past.  Sometimes I even purchase my own product from them – I guess that’s because I really like their products!

It’s that time of year again – children across America are going back to school!  While many of us make the extra effort to ensure our children are healthy and living a green life at home; what are our schools doing?  Check out Eco Chic Parties and the #HealthyBack2School Twitter Party on 8/26/10 to learn more tips about going back to school with EcoMom.com and Dr. Alan Greene.   

Here are some areas where you can make a difference:

School supplies:
If you’ve looked at a school supply list lately they are littered with unhealthy and sometimes toxic requests.  The standard school supply list includes crayons, scissors, glue, paper, folders, binders, notebooks, paper, paper towels, hand sanitizers, cleaning wipes, and other items that are less than green.  Don’t feel like you have to be tied down to those lists – talk with your students teacher about the alternatives and be responsible with what you send in with your child. 

Here is my son’s school supply list for second grade:
Glue Sticks
Crayons
Scissors
24 pencils
2pks eraser caps
Markers
School box
2 boxes of tissues
1 roll paper towels
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 contianer of cleaning wipes
Notebooks, folders, copy paper, post it notes
1 box gallon sized zipper bags

Responsible alternatives and options:
Crayons – 1) Send in used crayons, we have a TON why not reuse them until they can’t be used again.  2) If you are buying new look for soy crayons which are healthier for your child and the environment.
Pencils – 1) We get pencils in all our birthday goodie bags during the year.  We found all 24 without having to buy anything new.  2) If you are buying new look for recycled or forest friendly manufacturers.
Tissues – 1) Buy recycled content. 2) If your teacher is really progressive suggest reusable ‘hankies’ and volunteer to wash them each week.
Paper Towels – 1) Buy recycled content.  2) Again, if you have a progressive teacher suggest reusable towels and volunteer to wash them.
Hand sanitizers/Cleaning wipes - Avoid products with Triclosan which are in popular antibacterial sanitizers.  WHY?  Triclosan is actually a pesticide and studies show that we should use them with caution.  Green and Clean Mom wrote a good article on some of the other options.
All paper products – Buy recycled content whenever possible. 
Gallon sized zipper bags – I’m at a loss on this one because I don’t know what they use them for – but I’m going to ask tomorrow.

A warning about PVC products: 
What is PVC?  Polyvinyl chloride – one of the many toxic plastics we should limit our children’s exposure to.  A tip for determining if a plastic contains PVC – look at the bottom for the recycling triangle.  If it has a number 3 inside the triangle there is a good chance that it is made from PVC and should be avoided.  Did you know that PVC is commonly found in lunchboxes, backpacks, rain gear, 3 ring binders, some kids shoes, and art smocks?  Want to find our more about PVC and how to choose products that are PVC-free?  Visit Healthy Child, Healthy World and the Center for Health, Environment & Justice for a downloadable guide to PVC.

School lunches:
It’s estimated that the average school age child generates 67 pounds of garbage each year from school lunch alone!  Help reduce this number by packing their lunch in reusable containers and lunch boxes.  Check out the Green My Lunchbox Campaign for a list of companies who sell products to help reduce your child’s waste.  Don’t forget the reusable bottles too.  And if your child really prefers the juice pouch try to implement a TerraCycle Brigade to upcycle the pouches.  TerraCycle even has a Brigade for Lunchables this year too. 

Other areas of concern:
Indoor air quality at the school.
Playground equipment and maintenance.
Pest control.
Cleaning supplies used in the school.
Art materials.
Outdoor air quality – implement no-idling policies for buses and parents.  

It’s no wonder that some parents choose to homeschool their kids!  While all this information may look quite daunting you have to be an advocate for you child.  One excellent way to make a difference is to volunteer with your schools PTA/PTO and/or Green Committee.  I approached the PTA last year about some eco-ideas and was appointed to head up the new green committee.  This year I’ve been promoted to Vice President of the PTA and I’m learning that we really can make a difference.  It may take a while to implement the changes but with enough parental involvement and a cooperative administration YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!   No one else is going to be the voice of your child – you have to speak up and let your concerns be heard. 

What steps have you taken to green your child’s school?  Have you had any success you would like to share?  Leave us a comment below.

I can’t wait to tell you more about my partnership with Rump-a-rooz!

Disclosure: This fluffy pile of goodness was provided in exchange for services that I will be providing to Rump-a-rooz in the coming months.

I survived another First Day of School drop off today and now I’m ready to start my day.  My computer is ready and my POM Blueberry Smoothie is waiting for me – it’s just what I need on this rainy (sooooo much rain today) Florida morning. 

Recipe:

1 small bottle of POM Blueberry
1 cup of your favorite yogurt (I used Strawberry Stoneyfield)
Small handfull of ice

Add all the ingredients to your favorite blender and blend!  Now sit back and enjoy this wonderful treat – oh and did I mention it’s healthy too? 

What’s your favorite POM recipe?  I have 4 more bottles of POM Blueberry – what do you think I should make next?

Disclosure: POM provided me with samples of their POM Blueberry with the hopes that I would share some recipes with you all. 

As the summer starts winding down and school starting back tomorrow I’m still coming down off of my BlogHer10 high.  I realized I never got past my first impressions of my arrival day and there is so much more to share with you.  During our shared cab ride to the Hilton @DebMomof3 and I learned that we were both going to the Martha Stewart Blogger’s Night Out later that first evening (Thur).  We had made plans to share a cab ride over to the event since it was several blocks away from the hotel. 

After arriving back at the hotel from lunch – I visited the registration desk at BlogHer and was on a mission to meet up with one of my new Twitter friendshttp://twitter.com/royaldixie <AKA Maggie or Dexter’s Super Savvy Mommy>.  Maggie and I ‘met’ on Twitter through my EcoStoreUSA partership <more on that in an upcoming post>.  Maggie and I did finally meet up and chatted for a while before we decided to head off to the Martha party. 

Once we stepped outside to catch a taxi to the Martha party we realized there were about 30 or more other ladies standing in the same line.  As luck would have it a nice limo driver found us and took a group of us to the party in style – in a nice white strecth limo!  What a way to start off an evening of fun!  We all exchanged business cards and laughs on the short trip. 

Here is a slide show of pictures I took over the next hour while we were spoiled by Martha and her team.

While we all expected the party to be on the roof top as the sun set over NYC – the weather had other plans that threatened rain.  Instead of taking their chances with the rainstorm the party was moved inside.  The area was packed full of blogger’s and representatives from Martha Stewart.  There was something there for everyone including several wedding tables, crafting tables, food displays and samples, pet products, and my favorite Whole Living!   Whole Living <the new name of the Body & Spirit magazine> has taken on a new look with healthy and environmentally friendly articles.  It was nice to see the Martha Stewart ‘clean’ line of products that are all natural and free of toxic chemicals – they even list their ingredients on the back of the label.  <Thanks Martha and OmniMedia for giving me a sample of the ‘clean’ hand & dish soap – and more –  to try at home in our awesome swag bags.>  I was also blessed with a copy of the September issue of Whole Living to read on the plane home – I think I found a new magazine to fall in love with!  And since I’m trying to eliminate the ‘trash’ in my mailbox I just subscribed to the digital magazine for only $5 for the year!  What a bargin!

Unfortunately I begged Maggie to leave early because I didn’t want to be late for the Green Blogger Soiree <stay tuned for my next BlogHer post> hosted by Safe Mama.  We heard that we left the Martha party right before Matha herself appeared – and right before they drew the winners from their table of goodie baskets.  Like every other aspect of BlogHer, the Martha party moved so fast I’m sure I missed more than seeing Martha.  It all seems like such a blur now.

To see more pictures from the Blogger’s Night Out visit the OmniMedia Flickr page. 

Thank you Omni Media and Martha Stewart for inviting me to the Blogger’s Night Out and for the fabulous bag of goodies in which we were provided. 

And a special thank you to my sponsors who helped me get to BlogHer this year.  Franklin Goose, Bamboo Bums, and Teething Bling/Smart Mom Jewelry all sponsored me financially.  Lillunia LLC and Rockin Green Soap both purchased ad space that I used to help with my trip.  Eco Chic Parties accepts payment for some parties – and that money has been used for trip expenses as well.  Mommy Doodles is my one and only graphic designer and technical expert.  Melanie is AWESOME and always willing to help me (sometimes I even pay her) with my blog(s).  She even designed my awesome business cards for me!

In honor of Trash to Treasure Thursday, this week I’m super excited to bring you the latest and greatest news from TERRACYCLE!  In April, TerraCycle debuted Garbage Moguls on the National Geograpic Channel – a series of television shows that documented the zany antics of the TerraCycle crew as they develop new products from our garbage.

This Saturday, National Geographic will be airing the pilot along with three brand new episodes!  Set your DVR’s – plan a night in with friends – but don’t forget to watch Garbage Moguls this Saturday night.  The fun begins at 7pm ET as they replay the original pilot episode, followed at 8pm’s Pet Project, 9pm’s Fishy Business, and at 10pm pull an All-Nighter with the TerraCycle crew. 

Below is a clip from the 9pm Fishy Business episode where they Tom and Alby visit a plant in Ohio that turns 500 chip bags into a brand new trash can and pitch the idea to the Home Depot team in Atlanta. 

Be sure to join the TerraCycle preview party LIVE on Twitter from 8-11pm to win some great prizes.  Follow @TerraCycle and #GarbageMoguls to be a part of the live fun.  You can also follow along on Facebook and answer some trashy trivia questions.  www.facebook.com/terracycle

It’s my best friends birthday celebration so I may have to sneak onto my iPhone a few times to catch the action live – but shhhhh – don’t let her know!

I broke down and bought my first neti pot today to help clear my allergy head! Wish me luck!

OK – are you ready for this?  I’m setting up a schedule of regular posts to keep the content current and fresh here at The Eco Chic!  <Yes – I’m trying to get motivated from my post-BlogHer excitement!>

Every Tuesday I will be bringing you some of my favorite deals and specials from some of my favorite retailers and brands!  Some days I’ll have a lot to share while others I’ll only have a few.  If you have a special you would like me to include send an email to theecochic@gmail.com by Sunday night.  I will try to include as many offers as possible but will only feature those that I feel are a fit for my readers! 

This weeks Eco Chic Deals:

EcoMom.com: 

1. Did you know that EcoMom.com actually has a new Daily Deal feature?  You can sign up on their website to have a new deal delivered to your inbox everyday – or you can watch for the announcement on their Facebook page. 

2.  Did you know that EcoMom.com has recently reduced their FREE shipping qualifications from $75 down to only $50?  That means for every $50 you spend at EcoMom.com you can have your goodies shipped to you for FREE!

3.  Did you know that EcoMom.com is currently running a video contest?  What does Eco Mom mean to you?  Click HERE for details on how to enter – and possibly win a $200 shopping spree at EcoMom.com.

4.  Want to save 15% off your first order at EcoMom.com?  Use coupon code SB003108 (affiliate code) and you can save 15% off your total order <valid on first time orders only>.

Franklin Goose:

1.  Did you know that Franklin Goose has $5 flat rate shipping. (affiliate link)  Any size order ships for only $5! 

2.  New for Back to School – Urban Harmonie Designs Snack Pouches and Lunch Bags. 

Kelly’s Closet:

1.  Bummis Swim Diapers (affiliate link) have been reduced for a limited time down to $9.95 each at Kelly’s Closet ! Includes the new bubble print!
 
2.  NEW COUPONS!! (affiliate link)
     *Free shipping on an order of $25 or more with code FSHIPAUG . Valid thru 8/20, midnight est. (Cannot be used on Rockin’Green). Limit 1 code per order. Sorry, no previous or pending orders discounted.
     *FREE pair of bumGenius baby legs with a $15 purchase with code FREELEGNOW . Valid thru 8/20, midnight est-or while supplies last. Limit 1 code per order. Sorry, no previous or pending orders discounted.

3.  Coupons still active: (affiliate link)
     * FREE one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code FREEWATER at check-out. (EXP 9/15. Limti 1 use per customer/household.)
     *FREE one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code FREEONE at check-out. (Exp 8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)
     *Take 10% off all Rumparooz AND FREE shipping. Use code RUMPAROOZTEN
     *Free one-size cloth diaper with a $25 purchase. Use code ONESIZEFREE at check-out. (Exp. 8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)
     *Free one-size cloth diaper with a $35 purchase. Use code AUGNEWS at check-out. (Exp.8/31. Limit 1 use per customer/household.)
 
Rules for coupons:
Sorry, NO previous or pending orders discounted. No exceptions. Limit 1 code per order. For free one-size diaper coupons Kelly’s Closet chooses brand and style of diaper.

It’s Saturday afternoon and one little one is napping while the other one is playing on his laptop – and I can sneak back into my BlogHer memories long enough to write Part 1 (there will be several parts – but I promise there is a lesson for you in each one).  Today’s lesson is taking the first step.

I arrived in NYC on a plane all by myself with no plan on how to get to the hotel.  I had seen tweets all morning saying people were arriving and looking to share rides so I thought I would try it out.  I tweeted hopeful of finding someone to share a ride with – and to my surprise I found @DebMomof3 who was already at LGA and waiting on @ConnieFoggles to arrive.  Ironically @ConnieFoggles was on my plane from TPA – what a small world!  I had never met either of these women and didn’t even follow them on Twitter yet.  After mechanical problems we finally deplaned from the rear of the plane and found each other at baggage claim.  We chatted and learned a little about each other as we waited for a taxi and headed to the hotel.  I was so busy chatting that I found myself paying very little attention to the city around me. 

Then we arrived – to the Hilton NYC – and the sea of women bloggers!  It was all a little surreal actually – lots of women standing around the hotel lobby tweeting one another – trying to find a connection or a friendly face.  Luckily I’m a Hilton Honors member (I travel a lot for work) and got my room right away (most had to wait for a clean room) and escaped to my safe haven.  I tweeted a few times to see if anyone I knew (virtually) had already arrived.  Unfortunately I couldn’t find anyone - now what?

I was unpacked and starving – I had to escape my room and come out from behind my laptop.  I wasn’t here in NYC to sit in my room all weekend and tweet.  So I stepped out of my room, went down the elevator, and back into the lobby.  I tweeted a few more times looking for someone else who was starving – to no avail.  No one was biting at my pleas for a friend.  I finally tweeted about how insecure this was all making me and went outside to find food by myself.

I stopped to call my best friends back home – only to get their voice mail - now I was even more alone! 

Which way should I walk?  Walk around the building and stop to breath – trying not to cry with insecurity.  Then it happened – I saw her – another young woman staring at her phone and staring at the big city trying to decide where she was going. 

So I did it – I stopped her and asked her if she was with BlogHer – I guess we’re not hard to spot with our phones stuck up our noses.  I asked if she was hungry and if she would like to grab a bite to eat – thankfully she said YES!  So @LoneK8 and I walked to the nearest pub and sat down to regroup.  While I had made friends in the cab I finally felt like I had make my first ‘real’ friend  at BlogHer!  Kate and I chatted about our blogs, our families, and this madness that was BlogHer! 

This is a picture of Trump Tower which Kate and I found on our walk!  We liked the trees growing on the side of the building.

Registration didn’t begin until 4pm so we had plenty of time before we had to step back into the Hilton.  We decided to walk the city for a few blocks – and I think we even ended up on 5th Avenue.  We were actually looking for a drug store which we finally found – across the street from our hotel!  LOL!  We passed each other a few more times during the conference and both said hi as we continued on our way but we didn’t really see each other the rest of the weekend. 

My first experience was well tweeted by another woman blogger at BlogHer …  “It’s like showing up to the prom….alone!”  It was exactly like that – showing up at BlogHer, not knowing anyone, just trying to find a friendly face.  I don’t do well being alone so I’m very thankful to Kate for joining me at lunch that first day. 

Next time you find yourself at the mall, or park, or conference alone (or with your kids) look around and see who else is around – chances are that someone else is alone just waiting for someone to make the first move!  I’m so glad that I did! 

This is Kate after our hot and sweaty walk around the city!  Still beautiful despite what she thought!

To follow my new friends:

@DebMomof3 Blog:   http://www.momof3girls.net/ 
@ConnieFoggles Blog: http://brainfoggles.com/businesscard/
@LoneK8Blog: http://www.lonek8.com/

And a special thank you to my sponsors who helped me get to BlogHer this year.  Franklin Goose, Bamboo Bums, and Teething Bling/Smart Mom Jewelry all sponsored me financially.  Lillunia LLC and Rockin Green Soap both purchased ad space that I used to help with my trip.  Eco Chic Parties accepts payment for some parties – and that money has been used for trip expenses as well.  Mommy Doodles is my one and only graphic designer and technical expert.  Melanie is AWESOME and always willing to help me (sometimes I even pay her) with my blog(s).  She even designed my awesome business cards for me!