The EcoChic

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!

Giveaway alert!  One lucky reader will win a sample pack of products from Marcal Small Steps for making small changes to green your life.  Giveaway closed – ECO-ngratulations Stephanie R.

When companies send me products to review I don’t always write them up immediately – I’ve had my Marcal Starter Kit (disclosure) since April and I’m finally inspired to tell you how I feel about their product.  It’s usually better if I hold off and really review the products because I can give you a full and honest description of the products. 

The only thing remaining from our starter kit is a partial pack of napkins.  We don’t use disposable napkins often – we either use reusable cloth napkins or paper towels.  We normally shop at Publix grocery store and buy their own line of green recycled paper products – the only place locally that sells Marcal is SweetBay and we don’t (normally) shop there.  On occasion we will buy our paper products at Wal-Mart or Target but I’ve never seen Marcal there either.  

Compared to the Publix Greenwise products the Marcal products are fairly similar.  Here is my comparison and comments by product: 

Paper Towels - I couldn’t really tell much difference between the paper towels.  They picked up the wet messes just fine.  I’ve never been a picky person over absorbency with paper towels – I don’t normally have large spills to clean up. 

Tissues -I normally avoid the recycled nose tissues because we all know that they are rougher than those soft luxurious Puffs.  I have to say I wasn’t too impressed with the Marcal Small Steps tissues - they were not soft at all and if I had been sick or used them regularly I’m sure my nose would have been raw.  For the everyday tissue – they would probably be fine if you didn’t care too much about the softness.

Toilet Paper -I tried two different TPs; one was a single ply and the other was double ply.  Compared to the Greenwise the double ply was about the same.  The single ply was very thin and the roll emptied pretty quick. 

Napkins - Like I said I don’t normally buy napkins but I don’t really see a difference from brands that I’ve used in the past.  They are great to have around at dinner time if I’m not using the cloth napkins. 

All of the Marcal Small Steps are made of 100% recycled paper.  They don’t use chlorine bleach or dyes to make the paper ‘pretty’ and white.   Their products are all fragrance free too. 

Would I buy Marcal Small Steps? I would buy the paper towels and 2-ply TP ’if’ it were sold where I normally shop and if the price was comparable to what I already buy.  I won’t go out of my way to find a place to purchase it because it’s not really that much different from the brand I already use. 

If you don’t already purchase recycled paper products I would recommend taking ‘Small Steps’ to change your buying habits.  The easiest products to start with are the paper towels and napkins – followed by the TP.  Environmentally speaking – there is absolutely NO reason NOT to purchase recycled products if they are available.  I honestly have no idea why paper companies still manufacture them from virgin materials – i.e. Trees!  At Marcal they manufacture more than a MILE of paper every minute - that’s a LOT of paper – thankfully they are using our waste paper and not trees.    

Does your local store carry Marcal Small Steps?  Have you tried any of the Small Steps products?  What were your thoughts?  To find a store nearest you enter your zip code on their website. 

Want to win a starter kit of Marcal Small Steps products?  Leave a comment below after you visit their website and tell me one thing you learned – this can be about your local store, a specific product, or an interesting environmental fact – it’s up to you. 

Extra chances can be earned by following Marcal on Facebook and Twitter (1 entry each by leaving a separate comment below).   

Contest Rules:Must be over the age of 18 and the contest is open to anyone living in the USA.  Marcal will ship directly to the winner.  Giveaway will close on June 30, 2010 and I will randomly choose one winner.  Winner will have 48 hrs to claim their prize (I will email the winner) before a back up winner is selected.  Good Luck!

Giveaway closed – ECO-ngratulations Stephanie R.

Hi and Welcome to The Eco Chic blog – if you are a new reader I hope to convince you that cloth diapers REALLY are better for the environment.  Not only will I convince you that they are better for the environment; I will also remind you that they are better for your baby AND better for your wallet! 

If you are a regular reader I am working with the Real Diaper Association (RDA) and other cloth diapering bloggers to help reveal the TRUTH and LIES behind recent Pamper’s controversy.  You can help too – visit the RDA to find out more.

Are you pregnant?  Do you have a baby in diapers?  If so, you might have heard that Pamper’s disposable diapers are currently under investigation by the CPSC.  Why?  Pamper’s newest technology – Dry Max – has been accused of causing severe chemical burns and diaper rashes in numerous cases.  To make it worse – Pamper’s has *supposedly* pulled their Dry Max off the shelf – however; rumor has it that they have just repackaged those diapers into the old boxes.  If you take nothing else from this article PLEASE use caution when purchasing or using Pamper’s diapers - if your baby starts getting a diaper rash STOP using those diapers IMMEDIATELY! 

Pamper’s in their defense has issued a Myth’s vs Facts about their diapers (and disposable diapers in general).  I would like to tell you my TRUTH about disposable diapers vs cloth diapers – I hope that in the end you will consider using cloth diapers just like my family has.  It’s really just as simple to use cloth diapers as it is to use disposable diapers.

Pamper’s MYTH: Cloth diapers are better for my baby. 
MY FACT:  Why YES, Pamper’s they are better for my baby!  Of course you are trying to spread lies by telling us that this is not true!  The research that is available is skewed - look at who paid for the research to be conducted and WHEN it was actually conducted.  My personal story – my first son ALWAYS had a diaper rash when he was in disposables but I didn’t know that cloth diapers were this easy.  My daughter (and all babies) still gets minimal diaper rashes but I now know the keys to keeping diaper rash at bay.  You can ready my post on diaper rash HERE.  If my daughter develops a rash now (which is rare compared to my son) it is minimal and can be cured within a day or two.  The only reason that disposable diapers can keep your baby drier than cloth is because of the toxic chemicals that absorb the moisture – I don’t want my baby to be swaddled in the same toxic chemicals that were banned from tampons - just change your babies diaper and they will remain dry. 

Pamper’s MYTH:  Cloth diapers are better for the environment.
MY FACT:  **Did you know that I am an environmental scientist? No – I don’t research this topic for my job but I do know a LOT about the impact we all leave on the environment by our decisions.**  Pamper’s CLAIMS that the life-cycle assessment from the UK study doesn’t show any difference between disposable diapers and cloth diapers – I simply CANNOT understand how they can make this claim and feel like they are telling the truth.  Disposable diapers all end up in landfills (or thrown out on the side of the road, on the beach, in the ocean, or incinerated) where they will SIT for over 500 years.  No one knows for sure how long it takes for a disposable diaper takes to breakdown but I don’t want my great-great-grandchildren to have to clean up disposable diapers from my daughter!  My daughter is 16 months at the time of this post – we have about 35 cloth diapers that we have accumulated.  When my daughter is potty trained we will either donate or sell those cloth diapers to another family to use again and again.  If you start using cloth diapers with your first child you won’t need to purchase diapers for the rest of your children.  Yes – cloth diapers can wear out after time but most can be repaired with little effort.  And if you are like my mother – you can give your diapers another life by using them to clean around the house.  My mom used my cloth diapers to dust with.  I even ended up with a few of them to use on my baby dolls when I was a child.  Even if you add in the water and electricity used in laundering our cloth diapers you have to subtract 1) manufacturing costs of the 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers that a baby uses in the first 2 years of life, 2) the natural resources used in manufacturing those same 4,000-5.000 disposable diapers, 3) transportation from the manufacturer – to the warehouse – to the store - to your home (and I’m probably skipping a few trips between retailer warehouses) for those same 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers, 4) transportation from your house to the landfill for those same 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers, 5) the natural resources lost to dispose of those 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers (afterall since most end up in landfills - land is NOT a renewable resource), 6) you get the picture don’t you!  My 35 (+/-) diapers CANNOT create as much damage on the environment as 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers.  Unless you practice elimination communication (diaper free baby) diapering your baby is going to create some environmental impact – you decide for yourself which is worse – I choose cloth diapers so that our families environmental impact can be lessened and I honestly believe that as MY TRUTH!

Pamper’s MYTH: Disposable diapers  are harmful to the environment.
MY FACT:  Didn’t I just talk about this?  This is Pamper’s clever way to make disposable diapers look good.  While the disposable diapers that are around today (and in the future) will continue to use less natural resources by making the diapers thinner and thinner – or biodegradable – or whatever new technology they can come up with…can you honestly convince yourself that allowing 4,000-5,000 disposable diapers (per child) rot in the ground for 500+ years is NOT harmful to the environment?  Can you?  You have the ability to choose reusable and sustainable cloth diapers that are much better for the environment than disposables – make the right choice! 

Did you notice that Pamper’s didn’t even attempt to touch the cost analysis of cloth diapers vs disposable diapers?  In today’s tight economy cloth diapers are the clear winner in saving parents thousands of dollars in diapering their babies.  The exact cost varies depending on the type of cloth diaper you choose (prefold – pocket – all-in-one – etc) and the number of children you have (or the number of children each diaper is used on).  While my husband was hesitant to use cloth diapers in the early days he is more than happy to put extra money into our savings account each month that we would otherwise be spending on disposable diapers.  Where do you want to put your money each month – your savings account or into the deep pockets of the disposable diapering companies?

Do you want to learn more?
1) Read my old posts about cloth diapering to learn more about our journey.

2) Visit the Real Diaper Association.

3) Find other cloth diapering bloggers like myself.  Some of my favorites include Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry and Emi at The Cloth Diaper Report. 

4) Visit the blogs of cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers like Kelly’s Closet – The Cloth Diaper Whisperer. 

5) Still have questions? Email, Tweet or Facebook me – I’ll be happy to help!  

This post is part of the Real Diaper Facts carnival hosted by Real Diaper Events, the official blog of the Real Diaper Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to cloth diaper education. Participants were asked to write about diaper lies and real diaper facts. See the list at the bottom of this post to read the rest of the carnival entries.

Giveaway alert!  Franklin Goose online is giving one lucky reader their own Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipes Warmer (for cloth wipes).  Details on how to enter following this post. Contest closed – ECO-ngratulations to Debbie G!

I did it!  I finally make the last leap into the cloth diapering world; I switched to cloth wipes.  I’ve always had a stash of cheap wash cloths on hand to use but I always struggled with how to use them.  I’ve tried spray on wipe solutions which I actually really liked (but I’m too lazy to go buy more online) but my bottle is empty.  I recently received a set of Thirsites Fab Wipes (thanks www.weewilliewinks.com) but haven’t done much with them.  I have a sample of some bum solution beans that I got with a diaper order which I haven’t done anything with.  WHY?  Because I didn’t have a wipes warmer!

Just like my diaper sprayer that I don’t have…I never invested in a wipes warmer.  I’m not sure why really, maybe I just didn’t think I needed it.  I WAS WRONG! 

Sheri with Franklin Goose recently sent me the Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipes Warmer to review and now I am hooked.  The warmer comes complete with 4 warmies (100% bamboo cloth wipes) and an ever-fresh moisture pad.  My only objection is that now I have one more thing on the changing table that the baby wants to play with and one more thing plugged into the wall that is always on. 

The wipes warmer is molded with a special resin that prevents the growth of microorganisms so you don’t have to worry about mold.  As long as you change the ever-fresh pad every 3 months you can keep your cloth wipes warm and moist and ready for use.  The warmies (wipes) that come with it are made from 100% bamboo which adds an extra layer of anti-microbial protection.  

How to use:
- Find a nice, safe location in your changing area for the warmer.  Be sure to keep the cord out of reach of baby.
- Moisten the ever-fresh pad and place in the bottom of the warmer.
- Moisten your wipes (recipe ideas following review)
- Plug in warmer and wait.
- After about 30 minutes your wipes are warm and ready to use. 

At changing time you simply pull out a cloth wipe and wash away.  Since the wipes are thicker than disposable wipes you can fold them over and always have a clean surface to wipe your little one.  Instead of using 3-4 disposable wipes on your baby you can now use one cloth wipe (even for the messy ones).  You have now saved $100′s of dollars a year and prevented thousands of disposable wipes (and packaging) from going to your local landfill. 

I just throw the wipes into the diaper pail with the diapers and wash everything together on wash day.  Of course, you’ll need to buy a few more cloth wipes to last between washes.  The warmies wipes are nice and soft…similar to a light-weight terry cloth.  The Thirsties Fab Wipes were softer and are made of cotton velour.  I also have a few handmade wipes and I usually throw a few wash cloths into the warmer too.

Wipes Solution:

When I got my warmer I started by using just plain tap water.  After all, you know how simple I like to keep things.  This works just fine and is the easiest method of all.  BUT here are some great recipes that are worth a try. 

Simple Wipes Recipe:
- 2 TBS Baby Wash (I prefer to use my EcoStoreUSA baby wash since it’s natural and safe for baby)
- 2 TBS Olive Oil (yes, from the kitchen)
- 2 Cups Water
Mix the ingredients together and moisten your baby wipes.  Squeeze the liquid from the wipes so that they are just barely wet and place wipes into the warmer.
TIP:  You can reuse the leftover solution by filling a spray bottle to use when you are away from home.      

I’m going to try this one next.  Chamomile ‘n’ Honey!  Boil one chamomile tea bag and add one tsp honey to one cup of water.  Both ingredients are soothing and have been used to help heal wounds and rashes.  Make a double batch and drink one before bedtime.

BUY IT:  You can find the Warmies Wipes Warmer online at Franklin Goose.  Franklin Goose is a wonderful organic and natural eco-boutique.  Retail is $29.99 and is well worth the small investment.  I’m still not sure why I’ve lived without one for so long. 

WIN IT:  One lucky reader will take home their very own wipes warmer!  To enter visit Franklin Goose and tell me one other item in their store that you like.  Leave your comment below to be entered.

EXTRA ENTRIES:  (Leave individual comments for each entry)
1.  Follow both @TheEcoChic and @FranklinGoose on Twitter. (1 entry)
2.  Leave a review of a favorite product, start a wish list, or start a registry on Franklin Goose.  (1 entry)
3.  Visit Eco Mom Media and register for an upcoming party.  Franklin Goose is sponsoring the #WearMyBaby party on 4/15.  (1 entry per party)
4.  Become fans of The Eco Chic, Eco Mom Media and Franklin Goose on Facebook.  (1 entry each)
5.  Tweet it up with your friends.  Be sure to include a link back here as well as @TheEcoChic and @FranklinGoose in your message.  (Max 2 entries per day)

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada over 18 years of age.  Giveaway will close at midnight (EST) on April 23rd, 2010. 
Good Luck!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Debbie G! @MSU_MOM_TO_2

Disclosure:  Franklin Goose is a sponsor of The Eco Chic blog.  The wipes warmer reviewed in this post was provided by them for me to try.  I love the Goose and the Goose loves me!  I however would only say that if it were true…and so it is said!  Wee Willie Winks also provided the Thirsties Fab Wipes which I raved about too.  Wee Willile Winks is an online diaper retailer out of Orlando, FL.  I love to support nearby and local cloth diapering companies and Wee Willie Winks provides several outreach events each month to spread fluffy love to central Florida.  Wink Wink!  I also mentioned EcoStoreUSA but they didn’t pay me or provide me anything to spread the eco-love…I just love them.    

I’ve been told that I can find the silver lining in most clouds.   The last few weeks have personally been challenging for me.  Our family has been battling winter illnesses (colds, sinus infections, and the likes) and we are still today coughing and hacking.  Thankfully you can’t catch it from reading this…but I wouldn’t want to step into my house today.  Which reminds me, I think I’m going to hire a maid for a very DEEP cleaning of the entire house and I need to go buy everyone new toothbrushes.  Isn’t it funny what you think about after you get sick? 

Anyways…in addition to all the germs floating around my house I’ve received some scary news about the health of others in my family.  But like most people, we will learn to accept the cards that we have been dealt and treasure the moments we have today.  I know..I sound like a cheesy Hallmark card…but sometimes life gives you so much that there is nothing else you can do but look for that silver lining.  Take a step back and remember what matters most in your life.  It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and focus all your energy on work, extra-curricular activities for the kids, and other daily activities…but what really matters most in life is relationships with those you love. 

Last week I received an email from Erin, an editor at the Southern Living Magazine, and asked if she could feature me as their Mama Blogger of The Week.  This came on the same day as some pretty scary news.  I was all excited and giddy as I sat there and read her email over and over again.  I went and read about some of the past Mama Bloggers of the Weeks and I feel honored to be among these other great mama’s.  Thank you Erin for all your kind words and for the recognition.

So…go check it out.  Go visit the Southern Living, Live Healthy blog and see what it’s all about.  There are great articles about health, wellness, and the environment.  Leave me your comments over there so next time I have a bad day I can read your kind words and remember why I continue to write.  To build relationships, to help one another through these tough times, and to share my passion with the environment with everyone.  

Thank you for continuing to support me.  It’s gonna be one tough year…but I’m ready with my blender to make some lemonade (or maybe a margarita)!  Anyone else thirsty?

Giveaway alert! One lucky reader will win a BabyKicks Bumboo Pocket Diaper and a Premium Duz-it-All. Details following post.  Closed! Eco-ngratulations to DebbieLG @MSU_MOM_TO_2 you are the winner!

Despite how lame I know this is going to sound…I got a total KICK out of BabyKicks newest diaper, the Bumboo pocket. I mean seriously, look how adorable it is when it arrives in the mail.

BabyKicks is a small family owned business that hand makes about 90% of their products in Maryland. In addition to their new Bumboo pocket diaper they also sell fitted diapers, pre-folds, nursing pads, burp pads, and blankets.

When the Bumboo first arrived I was in love with the softness of the inside and the interesting leg gussets. The Bumboo is a one-sized diaper that fits babies from 7lbs to 30lbs (comparable to most one-sized diapers). As you can tell from the picture above it has snaps but they are side snapping. Side snapping simply means you don’t snap the diaper by pulling the side tabs to the front…instead you pull the front snaps to the side. It actually takes a little while to get use to it but I like it. Although I fear that if you had a very hefty baby or toddler that it might be snug around the middle. (updated 2/23/09…BabyKicks is working on a new wing design to correct this potential issue with size!). One advantage of the side snap is that it prevents tab droop. The snaps are available in green (as shown here), blue or multi-colored.

I mentioned the interesting leg gussets. They are soft bamboo/fleece like the inside barrier but there is no PUL. It’s amazingly soft on their little legs but I feared that it would leak….guess what? It didn’t! The leg gussets were designed like this for 2 reasons: 1) to reduce rubbing on your babies legs, and 2) for better air flow (thus reducing the possibility of rash).

The Bumboo is a front loading pocket which allows for a more trim fit and helps to prevent that extra fluff in the rear. It comes with one Joey-Bunz 100% hemp insert. I love hemp inserts….they are so trim and so absorbent. My only other hemp insert came with our GADBaby diaper which Lil’ B recently outgrew (boo!). Why hemp? Hemp is super absorbent and anti-microbial (no bacteria or mildew here). Look at this pic of Lil’ B and you can tell that the Bumboo pocket really does have a nice trim fit.

Did you know that hemp is better for the environment than cotton? Hemp does not deplete the soil and actually adds rich nitrogen back into the soil. This allows growers to use less fertilizers and reduces the need for crop rotation.

But it now! The Bumboo pocket diaper sells for an amazingly low $18.50…this is incredibly LOW for a diaper of this quality! It’s very difficult to find a diaper with organic cotton and bamboo for less than $20-25 each. You can buy the Bumboo pocket diapers directly on their website or at many cloth diaper retailers nationwide.

Win it now! Visit the BabyKicks website and leave a comment below telling me one interesting fact about hemp. This is a mandatory entry.

Extra entries: (Leave an individual comment for each extra entry.)
1. Follow me on Google Friend Connect.
2. Follow both @TheEcoChic and @BabyKicksUSA on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway a maximum of 2 times per day. **Be sure to include @TheEcoChic and @BabyKicksUSA along with a link back to this post in your tweet.
3. Subscribe to have The Eco Chic blog delivered to your inbox via Feedburner.
4. Add The Eco Chic blog to your Google Feed Reader or other RSS reader.
5. Add my button to your blog and/or blog about this giveaway.

Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Must be over 18yrs old to enter. Contest will end on March 8th at midnight (EST).

Good luck!

ECO-ngratulations DebbieLG @MSU_MOM_TO_2 You are the winner! Watch your email for details on claiming your diaper!

I have just received a glamorous and much needed SUNSHINE AWARD!  It’s been freezing cold in Florida this week and the sunshine is exactly what I needed. 

This sunshine award was given to me by @Zealandsmom at There’s No Snakes in New Zealandblog.  Danielle and I met on Twitter while talking over cloth diapers one day and I’m stoked that she has finally moved back to town!  I’ve never met her in real life (IRL) but we have a play date coming very soon…as soon as we both find time!  LOL!  Go check out her blog.  She talks about her kids and does product reviews and giveaways too.  She certainly has more time to spend on her blog than I do…I’m slightly jealous.  Thanks D for passing on this wonderful ray of sunshine to me!!

Now…I have to pass it on to 12 bloggers I know.  I spend a lot of time each day on my own blog, networking on Twitter, and yet I only visit a few blogs each day.  Here are some on my Google Reader:

1.  Diapers and Dimples  -  For some lovely Wordless Wednesday pics.
2.  Dirty Diaper Laundry  – Because I love her passion towards cloth diapers! This would be me if I didn’t have a full time job.
3.  Paisley and Pretties  – For her witty tweets.
4.  Mommy Doodles  – Because I truly wouldn’t be able to blog without her! **And because she has become one of my greatest friends! Love ya!
5.  Retro Housewife Goes Green - Always thought provoking.
6.  The Mommy Blog - For a little bit of everything.
7.  Smiling Green Mom  – Because she always makes me smile on #Follow Friday.
8.  Mama Dweeb  – Because we’re all a little silly!
9.  The Crunchy Wife  – watch soon for a guest post from yours truly.
10.  So Fawned  – for gorgeous pictures of a brown-eyed little fawn!

So each of these ladies are asked to pass this award on to 12 other bloggers themselves.  Please take a moment to visit each of them and see why I love them.

There has been so much going on in my personal life lately that I haven’t been online as much but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take part of the Cloth Diaper Carnival (VI) hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry!  With Kim’s wonderful campaign and our many voices I am confident that we can….and will…

GET CLOTH DIAPERS ON THE ELLEN SHOW!

And you can participate too.  All you have to do is write a blog post, link your post below using McLinky, and tweet a link to your post on Twitter using @TheEllenShow #operationflully and #clothdiapers in the tweet.  For example: @TheEllenShow you should see how cute my baby looks in #clothdiapers #operationfluffy!

Operation Fluffy actually began last night during our weekly cloth diaper chats on Twitter (which if you don’t chat with us…you are missing a lot of fun!) when hundreds of tweets went out to The Ellen Show.  We plan to continue Operation Fluffy until Ellen helps us laugh, dance, conquer!  You can read the rest of the plans of Operation Fluffy on the Dirty Diaper Laundryblog…there will be videos, pictures, blogging and so much more!  We really want to get Ellen’s attention. 

So who’s with me?  Do you want to get cloth diapers featured on The Ellen Show?  Write your own letter to Ellen telling her why you love cloth diapers and want them on her show. 

Here is my letter:

Dearest Ellen,

You can call us what you like but here are just a few titles that we are known as; mom, mommy bloggers, wives, sisters, daughters, caregivers, dads (yes there are dads in the revolution too), housekeepers, professionals, stay-at-home parents, working parents, environmentalists and revolutionists (to name just a few)!  We have all made a commitment to our children when we decided to use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers…a commitment to our childrens health, the environment, and our bank accounts.

Did you know that disposable diapers contain toxins and carcinogens like Tributyl-tin (TBT) and Sodium Polyacrylate? These are known to cause cancer, skin irritations, and allergic reactions (including staph infections)?  Cloth diapers are much healthier for our babies and cause much fewer diaper rashes than disposable diapers.

Did you know that the average baby uses 6,000-9,000 disposable diapers in the first 3 years of life?  At an average of $65 a month that is $2340 over those same 3 years spend on disposable diapers alone.  That doesn’t include diaper wipes and diaper cream to cure diaper rashes.  Cloth diapers range in price (depending on the type) from $300-1000 for a stash of 24-36 diapers and when your baby is out of diapers you can resell them.  Cloth diapers can be reused over and over again saving you a ton of money.

Did you know that it could take anywhere from 250-500 years for disposable diapers to decompose in a landfill?  Did you know that disposable diapers use twice as much water as cloth diaper; and that’s mostly in manufacturing.  Over 27 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills each year.  Cloth diapers are much better for the environment and will reduce our children’s butt-print (carbon footprint) significantly. 

I want to see cloth diapers on The Ellen Show because the only way to change a diaper is one baby at a time and if you could help us reach just one more family than Operation Fluffy will be a success. 

We are your fans and we look forward to meeting you and showing off our babies adorable fluffy butts.  I’m sure you would fall in love with all of them…especially this one…

Much love and and lots of dancing,

The Eco Chic and family 

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As I continue my cloth diaper journey over this past year I have become associated with many wonderful companies, organizations and people who support the modern cloth diaper revolution.  I’m still trying to decide how I can best serve the cause and bring cloth diapers into more homes.  One way I have began advocating cloth diapers is through the Real Diaper Association (RDA).  I am in the process of becoming an RDA Circle Leader…an advocate for cloth diapers in the community. 

The RDA is a non-profit organization who works with parents all across the US to encourage the use of reusable cloth diapers 100% of the time!  I like to say that I use cloth diapers 99.99% of the time…and I cringe every time I put Lil’ B in a hard, crunchy sposie. 

My commitment to cloth diapers is primarily an environmental commitment.  Research shows that cloth diapers are far better for the environment than disposables.  Even though you will use slightly more water for washing…your babies environmental butt-print (hehe!) will be greatly reduced when using cloth diapers.

How can I help?  By introducing cloth diapers to others in my own community (and online!).  We’ve already worked to educate our babies caregivers, our family, and our friends to the world of cloth diapers.  I have several friends of mine who have recently given birth or are expecting…and I continue to share my own experiences with them.  Disposable diapers are readily available and accepted as the norm…cloth diapers are not.  When I mention to my friends that we use cloth they think I’m some new aged, hippie chick!  I’m just a normal working mom with a normal family.  Yes, we (OK…I) am a little obsessed with eco-issues and my friends have learned to love me for it.  Just like with recycling and CFLs…I believe that cloth diapers will one day be considered the norm as well. 

And I will continue to share my own cloth diaper journey with others…one baby at a time!  What about you? Is your baby in 100% reusable cloth diapers all the time?  Do you want to learn more about cloth diaper or the RDA?

PRESS RELEASE: February 1, 2010

Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation; empowering families, improving the environment!

As Miracle Diapers has grown so has the number of families they assist. In 2009, they helped over 450 babies directly, more than 100 babies through sponsorship and local distribution, and assisted other charities with the same mission as well! To better serve those families Miracle Diapers reaccessed it’s structure and practices. They have:

• New leadership with Roxanna Jolly—CEO and Lisa Johnston—Operations Manager and Board Chair
• Relocated their headquarters to Katy, Texas
• Restructured how they process and accept applications
• Opened a retail store for fundraising
• Founded a new membership program
• Welcomed several new board members from the cloth diapering industry.

In it’s fifth year Miracle Diapers wants to continue moving forward and has decided to take on a new name that better describes the organization and it’s mission.

Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation.

“We felt that a more appropriate name would help the community have a better understanding of who we are, as we have often been mistaken for a diaper manufacturer. Our desire to move forward and build a legacy of support for the cloth diapering community will be reflected in our new name: The Cloth Diaper Foundation.” -Roxanna Jolly, CEO, The Cloth Diaper Foundation

Monetary donations fell last year do to the economy. Which means there are more families out there for The Cloth Diaper Foundation to help! While diaper donations are always appreciated, we must be able to financially support organizational growth. Let’s make this happen together and spread the CD love. Visit http://clothdiaperfoundation.org today to find out how you can help!

To assist in fund raising efforts, in the month of February, Tracy Whittemore and Lisa Adkins from The Cloth Diaper Company have so graciously offered to match, product for product, each Cloth Diaper Company product sold (Drybees, Wahmies, Rocky Mountain Diapers) in The Cloth Diaper Foundation Retail Store with an equal donation to our organization.  (Example – Purchase a Rocky Mountain Diapers OS Pocket, CDC will donate our organization a RMD OS Pocket, Drybees for Drybees, etc.)