New WAHM Diaper Review/Giveaway - Zippy Doo Diapers! Ends 10-2-11!

Congrats to What Mommy Wants! Please keep your eyes open for an email from me. You have 48 hrs to respond. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks everybody for entering. The good news is that I was just approved for a beta version of Rafflecopter, so giveaways will be simplified from now on.

I'm excited to introduce you to Zippy Doo Diapers! This is a new WAHM diaper created by a woman in my due date online group. She's allowed me the opportunity to review her one size fitted diaper & will also give one custom One Size Fitted diaper  to one of my lucky readers. The giveaway will end on Oct 2 at 12 Noon CST. This giveaway is open to all countries! Please enter for a chance to try out this cute & absorbent diaper- you won't regret it!

Warning - this review will be pic heavy! I don't think you can do an accurate diaper review without plenty of pictures.

About Zippy Doo Diapers:

Allow me to introduce Natalie Ramirez Weyermuller. She lives in CA & has used cloth diapers on her son ever since his birth. She says that the possibility of using disposables never really entered her mind. She decided to use cloth diapers soon after discovering she was pregnant with her son. She tried various types of diapers, but really liked fitted diapers the best. Natalie loves cute & pretty things, so having a diaper that's also fashionable really appealed to her. She started buying fitted diapers & realized that she could make them herself. Natalie has been sewing since she was a little girl. In fact, she started out her college career as a fashion design major. It was her major for 3 years until she decided that she didn't like the "cut throat nature of the field".

Over this Summer she was bit by the sewing bug, & decided to design diapers for her son. She wanted him to have cute diapers without spending tons of money. She never planned to sell them. She had a full time job as an elementary school librarian, but was lucky enough to start working part time. She posted pictures of her cute diapers on our due date group's page, & soon Moms were asking if she would make diapers for them! Everyone LOVED her one size fitted diapers, so she decided to start selling her Zippy Doo diapers. You can also visit Zippy Doo on Facebook.

Natalie knew she wanted a roomier diaper. She felt that since cotton shrinks so much it was important to have a diaper that would not get smaller and smaller over time. She also wanted a soaker that had more length too, so the absorbency could truly be customized. It took awhile to get the pattern just right.

There's a story behind the cute name & logo. Natalie's brother is an animator. He drew the logo for her. The inspiration behind it is her kitty, Zippy, who loves to sit behind the sewing machine while she sews. Putting the diaper on Zippy was her brother's idea. Zippy Doo Diapers is also a play on words. "It is easy and fast (zippy) to put on the diapers (to doo it)".

About The One Size Fitted Diaper:

The diapers are made out of the cutest prints you'll ever see! You can select from her prints or send in your own. Natalie uses the prints on the outside of the diaper, & on the inside facing baby's skin is a layer of super soft cotton velour. The snap in liners/soakers are made of bamboo fleece, but they also have velour facing baby's skin. The diaper has a fold down rise/front that snaps down for smaller babies, & adjustable snaps at both the waist & leg area. The snaps are color coordinated with the fabric print. Natalie calls her diaper a "fitted one size" & says she designed her diaper to fit a little bigger than most one size diapers, so it will seem a little bigger on smaller babies. It should fit babies up to about 35+ pounds. It comes with a little bonus - a diaper wipe made of velour & a coordinating print! It's not an all in one, so a diaper cover is needed.

Here is what I received in the mail:

And more detailed pics of the diaper:

On one of  it's smallest setting.

 Showing the two rows of color coordinated snaps.

Showing the soft inner velour.

 Showing the bamboo fleece liners that snap in.

Another view of how the liners snap in. Notice that the side that faces baby's skin is velour.

Here is my baby modelling her Zippy Doo diaper in the Mermaid print:

 I chose not to fold the front down, but I do have the snaps on one of the smallest settings.

My Experience With the Zippy Doo One Size Fitted Diaper:

From the moment I opened the package I was impressed. The diaper was tied up in a cute little color coordinated bow that I've saved for a little later on when my baby girl has enough hair to put it in. It also came with a small square that can be used as a diaper wipe or makeup remover. The diaper wipe is made of the same soft velour & a color coordinated print. Natalie included wash & care instructions as well.

I untied the pretty little package to get a closer look at the diaper & fell in love with the print! I selected the print from the Zippy Doo Facebook page, but it was even cuter in person. At the time I had no idea that it would have a velour lining, & boy was I impressed with that! One of the reasons I love my itty bitty d'lish dipe is because it's so super soft to the touch. Imagine that softness up against your baby's delicate skin!

Natalie informed me that it wasn't absolutely necessary to prewash her diaper, but I could if I wanted to, & it would increase the absorbency if I did. I was so eager to try it out that I didn't prewash it. Natalie also told me that she often goes without a diaper cover when she's at home with her baby. I also didn't use a diaper cover since we were at home experiencing Tropical Storm Lee at the time. My baby was in her Zippy Doo dipe for about 2 hours, & we didn't experience any leaks at all. At least half of that time she was sitting on my lap. I felt a tiny bit of dampness & knew it was time to change her.

I will confess to being a tiny bit confused by the two different color snapping system. It wasn't difficult to figure out, but I just didn't quite understand the purpose of the 2 different colors at first. I was making it more complicated than it needed to be. Natalie was kind enough to put together a photo page depicting the snapping system. It's actually fairly self explanatory - one color for the folding rise & the other for the full rise.

I've washed & tried the Zippy Doo One Size Fitted diaper two more times since that initial use. I haven't used a diaper cover either time. The absorbency has gone up with each wash, but it was definitely usable without washing it first. That's a first for me. I remember 13 years ago when I tried my very first Motherease One Size diaper & didn't know that I was supposed to prewash it first. That sucker leaked all over the place until I washed it several times. Not having to prewash was a definite treat.

These diapers are so adorable that you hate to cover them up! They don't have a layer of PUL, so for use while out & about you'll definitely want to use a diaper cover. However, you likely won't need one for at home use. If you're like me & check your baby every couple of hours even if they don't fuss to be changed, that shouldn't be a problem for you at all. The diaper is plenty absorbent enough to prevent accidents other than dampness. The snap in liner is made of bamboo fleece, so it's quite absorbent. In fact, it's actually 2 liners sewed together that snap into the diaper.

I was impressed with the fit! This diaper is very absorbent for being as trim fitting as it is. Many One Size diapers tend to be bulky. With other diapers I've tried I've experienced issues with bulk in between the legs & elsewhere. I didn't have that problem with Zippy Doo. In fact, it fit well under her clothes! With some other dipes I've had to go a size up in her clothes in order for them to fit over the diaper, but I don't have to do that with these.

Pros:

1. Cute!
2. Custom made in either a print that Natalie has in stock, or one that you send to her.
3. Super soft!
4. Very absorbent!
5. Affordable! If you purchase a diaper made of one of Natalie's prints it costs $23.00. If you send in your own prints it costs $20.00.
6. Fit! Many diapers are soooo bulky - especially between the legs. These diapers are nice & trim under clothes.

Cons:

1. I can really only think of one con, & it isn't much of one. I wish that the diaper was an AIO with a PUL layer in the middle. Zippy Doo Diapers are so cute that you really hate to cover them up! However, as stated earlier you can go without a cover at home.

The Giveaway:

Now for the part you've been waiting for! Natalie is giving one lucky reader one custom One Size Fitted Diaper in a print of their choice! The giveaway ends on Oct 2, at 12 Noon CST. This giveaway is open to all countries!

The first task is mandatory, with 6 extra entries, for the opportunity of 8 total entries.

Please play fair & enter with one email addy. You must respond with your username & email for each entry. However, in an effort to make this easier for both of us you can leave one comment telling me how many tasks you've completed & supplying any extra info (such as a link to your tweet or twitter id) in that comment. Thanks!

Mandatory Entry

1. Follow me with GFC & comment with your name & email. Previous followers count.

Bonus Entries:

2. Subscribe via email & respond with your name & email. Previous subscribers count, but let me know.

3. Vote for me on "We're On The Fence".

4. Follow me on Twitter (@heartnbutterfly). Respond with your Twitter ID, name & email addy.

5. Tweet about this giveaway, & respond with a link to your Tweet, name & email.

6. Follow @ZippyDoDiapers on Twitter.

7. Like Zippy Doo Diapers on Facebook. Sorry, but my links aren't working on here, so visit here http://www.facebook.com/ZippyDooDiapers#!/ZippyDooDiapers

8. Leave Natalie a comment letting her know what sort of prints you're most interested in seeing her offer in the future.

Reviews & Giveaways coming soon!

Fairy Tales do come true with "I See Me" personalized books!

Please don't forget to enter the Rockin' Green giveaway! It ends Sept 7. Click here to enter.

About a month ago I See Me was extremely generous & sent me a beautiful personalized book of my choice to review. Being the HUGE fairy lover that I am, & because I have a fairy theme in my baby's room, I naturally selected their book titled My Very Own Fairy Tale for my sweet little princess. Oddly enough, about a week after selecting the book I discovered that I won a Who Loves You? book from I See Me in Beautifully Bella Faith's Blogspot! Yes; I enter giveaways too. :o) Talk about fortunate! Now I can give you my unique opinion of two different books.

About I See Me

If you aren't familiar with I See Me books, let me begin by telling you that they've won several awards: Mom's Choice, Creative Child Magazine, HomeSchool.com and Family Choice. Personalized children's books are a wonderful way to tell a child how very special they are. They make wonderful gifts for any child. You simply select a book from their many categories, & ten supply I See Me with information about your child to make the story all about them. Typically that information is basic things like: name, date of birth, special people in the child's life, & a customized dedication.

Some of the titles available are:

My Very Own Name

My Very Own Fairy Tale

My Very Own Pirate Tale

My Very Own ABC's

The World According To Me

Who Loves me?

A Christmas Bear For Me

A Hanukkah Bear For Me

You can see & order their books by visiting the I See Me website or calling 1-877-744-3210. They even have virtual tours of each book! Don't forget to like them on Facebook! 

About My Very Own Fairy Tale

It's a hardcover book, that takes little girls to a magical garden where flower fairies & berry fairies crown her as their fairy princess. Each fairy brings one letter to spell out the child's name, while describing character traits that make the girl the perfect fairy princess! This would make a wonderful keepsake for a baby girl, or even a perfect birthday or Christmas present for an older child! I See Me suggests an age range of 0 - 12 years, but my 13 year old daughter fell in love with this book & wants one of her own! I don't think it's sibling rivalry. I think she likes the artwork, the personalization, & of course she loves fairies too! I'll likely order her one as a surprise Christmas or birthday present.

It's absolutely beautiful & colorful! There's a nice added touch of the child's date of birth, & a personalized dedication. You can choose one of their suggested dedications or make up one of your own. At the end of the book there is a Fairy Patch that functions like a fairy dictionary. It features 62 fairies with interesting facts about their flowers & berries.

This is a pic of the cover of "My Very Own Fairy Tale Book"

As you can see, the cover is colorful & cheery. Any little girl would be drawn to it. I couldn't wait to swoop Patricia up into my arms, & begin reading to her! The book had about 30 pages, & it was a nice long read. If she was older & wanting more I would've continued with the Fairy Patch, but the story was enough for her.

Here are pictures of the inside of the book.

And a pic of the Fairy Patch

I didn't have to worry about shipping, but if I'd ordered my books like other customers I would've had a choice between 4 different methods of delivery. This is a wonderful thing to know! If I'm ever in a hurry, & need a book for a special gift at the last second I can order via Air delivery & I'll receive it in about 3 business days after the date of order. Standard delivery takes about 2 weeks.

While I'm on the subject of delivery, let me just show you how well the books were packed!

About Who Loves You?

The following quote comes from the I See Me website. "WELCOME A NEW BABY WITH A SPECIAL MESSAGE WRAPPED IN LOVE. I See Me! Inc. Launches Its Latest Personalized Storybook, Who Loves Me?" I couldn't have worded it better myself! When I read through this one I got a little teary eyed.

This book welcomes new babies (or children up to 5) by introducing them to the people who love them most. Written in rhyme, with colorful illustrations, Who Loves Me? builds self-esteem while drawing children through age 5 into the storyline. The book names family members or friends who love the child, and encourages the child to reach to the sky when asked how much each one of them loves him or her. The book reassures the child they are loved very much by each, with unique and touching rhymes describing the depth of each individual's love. For example, my daughter's name is Patricia so the book begins "Who loves Patricia? Momma, Daddy, & Amanda love Patricia! How much? So much! More than the mountains, more than the streams, more than a little girl's happiest dreams."

The book is a short one, with a hard cover and 20 tear-free pages. Who Loves Me? is designed to be read over and over again.

Like all I See Me books, Who Loves Me? is personalized with the child's first and last name and includes a dedication to the child from the sender.

Here is a pic of the cover.

And pics of the inside

I can't speak highly enough about these books! I have absolutely nothing negative to say about them.



Rockin' Green Review/Giveaway! Ends Sept 7!

Congrats to Erlinda! Please watch your email, & respond within 48 hours to claim your Rockin' Green! Thank you to everyone who entered.

About a month ago I started testing Rockin' Green's Rage Against The Raspberries in the Classic Rock formula. I was sent one 45 oz bag to test. I've waited to do this review until I had the opportunity to really put this detergent to the test!

Rockin' Green is also offering one of my readers a 45/90 load bag of detergent in the winner's choice of scent/formula. The Giveaway will end on Sept 7 at 12 Noon CST. I will have the Giveaway details at the end of the review. This giveaway is open to readers in the US & Canada.

About the product:

In the Summer of '09 Rockin' Green was born out of necessity - sensitive skin being the problem. It started as a family business, run from home. Before long, the soap filled the house! They found a small office, & hired two employees. Before long, they outgrew the first office, & moved to a new one. They also had a warehouse. The business continues to grow as word spreads about this wonderful soap.

It's naturally scented, dye free, vegan, it cleans & deodorizes, it contains no enzymes or optical brighteners, is phosphate free, is an easy rinsing formula, works great on stink, comes in recyclable packaging, HE compatible, costs pennies per load, gluten free, biodegradable ingredients, SLS & paraben free, & works great on clothes!

If you're using cloth diapers, chances are good that you already know not to use detergents with fabric softeners in them. However, most laundry detergents have chemicals such as perfumes that can cause buildup on your diapers. Buildup can cause them to leak due to repelling moisture rather than absorbing it. Apparently, buildup can even be a problem with perfume free detergent! Not only will Rockin' Green not cause buildup, but it can even help you remove existing buildup from using other brands of detergent.

Different Formulas:

There are 3 different formulas to suit different water types. You can view their formula map for a recommendation for your area if you're uncertain what type of water you have. You can also have your water professionally tested by a pool or aquarium business.

1) Classic Rock - This is the original formula, intended for use in areas with <250 ppm. This is for water that's neither too soft or too hard. When in doubt as to which formula to use, start with this! Classic Rock is designed for customers with sensitive skin, but is available in a wide range of scents. It's designed to deliver more cleaning power per scoop. Many customers have found a 60 percent reduction in stains, and are able to reduce the amount of “rock the soaks” needed.

2) Soft Rock - Advised in areas with <60 ppm. This is designed for the most sensitive of customers! It's available only in unscented  (Bare Naked Babies). This is for those with soft water or those using water softeners. It's also designed to deliver more cleaning power per scoop. Many customers have found a 60 percent reduction in stains, and are able to reduce the amount of “rock the soaks” needed. 

3) Hard Rock - Anything higher than 250 ppm. It has a lower pH than most detergents. This means that it's gentler on fabrics & diapers. It's safer for sensitive skin. It's designed to deliver more cleaning power per scoop.

There's an extra product for hard to remove funk!

Funk Rock - This is an optional ammonia bouncer for serious funk.  It's a 100% natural compound that targets funk at the source. 4 tablespoons is enough to de-funk up to 20 diapers in one sitting. You can add a little to your pre-wash to keep the stinkies from coming back. A 16 ounce bag will keep the diaper funk away for over two months! Phosphate Free – Enzyme Free – SLS Free.

Scents Available:

Smashing Watermelons
Rage Against The Raspberries
Motley Clean
Earth, Wind, & Orchids
Lavender Mint Revival
Mighty Mighty Marshmallows
Bare Naked Babies (unscented)

My Experience:

It was funny because my Rockin' Green arrived the very same day that the itti bitti d'lish arrived for me to review. I quickly grabbed my dirty diapers, threw the itti bitti in with them, & washed them with the Rockin' Green.

As soon as I opened the Ziploc bag of Rage Against The Raspberry, the sweet smell filled the air of my laundry room! It smelled so yummy that I wanted to taste it! It reminds me of a tart candy scent. I've used the Rockin' Green exclusively to wash my diapers ever since receiving it. I have to say that I'm impressed with how long this 45 oz bag has lasted me! Rockin' Green said that the bag should last up to 45 loads in a top load or 90 in an HE machine. I've bee using it since July 10. I have a regular washer, & I still have three quarters of a bag left! I haven't been counting, but I wash diapers at least twice a week. I think this bag will last me about 3 months. I have to tell you that I haven't just used it on diapers! I have a 13 year old who is hard on clothes. Every time I turn around she has one mystery stain or another. I've soaked her stained clothes in it following the Rock The Soak guidelines, & the stains disappeared! The one stained item that really impressed me was a pair of beige pants with grass stains on the knees. The grass stain disappeared after soaking.

Prior to using Rockin' Green, I used Sun Free & Clear. Because I was having issues with ammonia smell, I went ahead & Rocked A Soak on all of my baby's diapers. The ammonia wasn't noticeable all of the time - just when she wet a diaper. That problem went away as soon as I used the Rage Against The Raspberries. No more stink! Woo Hoo!

Another bonus - no more diaper rash! My baby has very sensitive skin. She's suffered with eczema on her face, neck, & upper chest since birth. At one point it was all over her body. I quickly realized that she was sensitive to scent. Even Johnson's Baby Wash caused her to break out in a rash. It was because of this that I was using Sun Free & Clear. I thought that would protect her little tush from eczema. For the most part it did, but she had this one area in the folds of her upper thighs near her groin that was a constant problem. That rash cleared up within 2 days of switching detergent!

Not only did it clear up her rash, but her diapers functioned so much better! I must've had buildup that I was unaware of. I didn't experience an obvious decline in absorbency over time, but boy oh boy did her diapers become more absorbent!

I did notice that the yummy smell didn't stay with the diaper after the rinse cycle. I went to the FAQ section at Rockin' Green & learned that was totally normal. Rockin' Green is designed to rinse out completely & easily, so that it doesn't leave a residue behind or irritate delicate skin.

Now is a great time to buy Rockin' Green because they're currently holding their Green Ticket Event. When you purchase your bag of Rockin' Green, open it up to see if there's a green ticket inside. If you’re a lucky winner, then you've won up to 150 prizes ranging from a bag of Rockin’ Green soap (scent of choice), a Shake it Up!, a Rockin’ Green Bundle…or one of two grand prizes - two concert tickets to the Ticketmaster event of your choice or a year's supply of Rockin' Green!

Pros of Rockin' Green:

1) The price for value! The 45 oz bag of 45/90 is $14.95. That may seem like a lot at first, but when you consider that this bag will do 45 loads in a regular washer you realize that it's actually a bargain at 33 cents per load. Yes; that may be a bit more than a traditional detergent, but a traditional detergent may be causing your diapers to be less absorbent.

2) Great for delicate skin! As mentioned earlier, my baby has eczema, & it cleared up the rash in her delicate areas.

3) Great at removing stubborn stains! It even removed grass stains from the knees on my 13 year old's pants!

4) The smell is yummy.

Cons:

1) It isn't available in stores locally. This isn't really a problem. It's easy to find online.

2) I suppose some might find the fact that the yummy scent disappears after rinsing to be a con. This doesn't bother me. I consider it a trade off for the comfort & health of my baby's skin.

The Giveaway:

This giveaway will end on Sept 7 at 12 noon CST. This giveaway is open to readers in the US & Canada. There is one mandatory task for entry, with 7 bonus entries, for a total of 8 possible entries per person. Please don't forget to comment with your name & email addy. It's the only way I have to contact you if you win. Thanks & good luck!

Mandatory Entry:

1) Follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, & comment with your name & email addy. Previous followers count too - just comment with your details.

Extra Entries:

2) Subscribe to my blog via email & comment with your name & email addy. If you already subscribe, please comment & let me know. Don't forget to leave your contact details.

3) Vote for me on "We're On The Fence". Comment & let me know. Don't forget to leave your name & email addy.

4) Follow me on Twitter (@heartnbutterfly). Comment & let me know your Twitter ID. Include your name & email addy.

5) Tweet about this giveaway, & include a link to your Tweet in your comment. Leave your name & email addy.

6) Follow Rockin' Green on Facebook.

7) Follow @RockinGreenSoap on Twitter.

8) Comment with the formula/scent you would choose if you won. Don't forget to include your name & email addy.

FREE Pertussis vacine for parents!

I'm sure you've all seen the commercial on TV, a Mother is holding her coughing baby near a window, sort of pacing back & forth with a worried expression on her face. The baby has the telltale whoop associated with "whooping cough". Maybe you even had whooping cough as a child - I know I did, & I remember it well! However, did you know that Pertussis or "whooping cough" is life threatening to babies under a year old. The scary thing about that is that it's children under 4 who catch it most frequently. Check out the Sounds Of Pertussis website for more information. This is a wonderful website that's full of info!

My baby is now 6 months old. On a recent visit to the pediatrician I learned that it's recommended that all adults having direct contact with an infant should get the Tdap vaccine. My pediatrician said that most babies catch Pertussis from their parents or another close family member. He asked when we last received our vaccine, & I really wasn't sure. My husband, myself, & my oldest daughter received a tetanus shot upon returning to N.O. after evacuating for Hurricane Katrina, but the pediatrician was unclear on if the tetanus portion of the vaccine was separate from the pertussis portion, & recommended getting it again to be on the safe side. Apparently, babies aren't considered protected from Pertussis until they have 3 shots. So far, my sweet girl has only had 1. The Dr told me about a wonderful program in our area aimed at ensuring that adults protect their babies from whooping cough.

If you're the parent of a baby less than 1 year of age, & live in the Metro New Orleans area, you can receive a free Tdap vaccine from GNO Shots For Kids. After doing a quick search online, I found that many states have similar programs, so please do your baby a favor & do a quick search online for "Free Pertussis vaccine for parents" & add in your local area. Failing that, you can of course get it from your regular DR or the Health Department.

List YOUR Giveaway here!

Hi,
Since I do giveaways, I thought it might be nice to give others the chance to list their giveaways as well! It's always nice to share, & hopefully this will get your giveaway a few more hits. I think I'll leave this open indefinitely.

Please comment with any details you feel are relevant.

Thanks!

I just wanted to let you all know that there's another great giveaway linky via icefairy's Treasure Chest. Please visit her to list your giveaways!

Sand Gone Review/Giveaway! Ends Aug 22!

Congrats to quiet ct! I think you'll be happy with this. It smells so yummy! Please watch for my email.

Are you planning a trip to the beach soon? Do you live near a beach, or do you frequently visit one? If so, you're probably sick of that irritating feeling of sand plastered all over your body. Sand Gone generously sent me a 12 oz Family Sized container of their all natural powder to test out, & is offering one lucky reader a 12 oz Family Size as well! The giveaway ends on August 22, 2011 at 12 Noon CST. As usual, the Giveaway details will be at the bottom of the Review.

Don't forget to enter to win an itti bitti d'lish SIO Diaper! There's still time. The giveaway ends Aug 11, 2011 at 12 Noon CST.

About The Product:

Tiffany Smith is a Mom of 2, who spent a lot of time at the beach with her children. She grew tired of using water to wash the sand off her kids, so formulated a powder that became known as Sand Gone.

Sand Gone is made from all natural products. It contains vegetable starch, plant starches, & fragrance.

Sand Gone is available for purchase on their website. You can pay securely with Paypal. You can purchase an 8 oz Family Size for $12.95 plus shipping. She also sells a Sand Gone Beach Bag, with all kinds of goodies in it: an 8 oz Family Size, a 2 oz individual size, Almond Coconut Soap, & display bag. The Beach bag currently sells for $26.00 plus shipping.

My family finally made it to the beach this past week! I love the beach & Summer just isn't complete without it. Nothing says Summer like the smell of the ocean, the feel of sand between your toes, & the sound of waves & seagulls. However, as much as I love the beach I do not enjoy the feel of sand stuck to my body on the drive home. It seems like no matter how much you rinse off with water, towel it off, or try to brush it off with your hands it just lingers in the most uncomfortable way!

About a week ago I received a sample of Sand Gone. It's said to be perfect for beach goers. It claimed to remove sand with a dry body powder, leaving your skin clean & soft. I thought it sounded too good to be true, but couldn't wait to test it! I'll admit to being skeptical.

I live in a suburb of New Orleans, & have grown up going to the beach every Summer - Grand Isle (pre BP Oil Spill), Biloxi, Ship Island, Florida, & now Alabama. All are within driving distance to me.

I'd always heard how clean & beautiful AL beaches were, & that they rivalled FL beaches. Since I have a 5 month old baby that I'm nursing every 2 hrs, I wanted to keep the car drive reasonable, but I also wanted to go to a clean beach that was as far away from last year's oil spill as possible. Let me just give a shout out to Cotton Bayou Beach in Orange Beach AL. It was BEAUTIFUL, & well worth the 4 hr drive to get there!

My Experience:

We spent several hours on the beach & in the water, but before we knew it the time had flown by. It was time to hit the road. We had to walk about 25 yards across the beach to get to the pier that led to the parking lot, flip flops sending sand up the back of our wet legs. We had a pretty decent amount of sand on us by the time we reached the parking lot. My 13 year old daughter used the outdoor public shower to attempt to wash her sand off. I used the Sand Gone. My husband multi tasked by holding the baby while shooting video of me using the Sand Gone. Later he used the towel to try to remove his sand. Out of the 3 of us, I definitely fared the best. Unfortunately, they were too shy to let me take pictures or shoot video of them! However, I can tell you that when we arrived home at 9:00 that night, they both couldn't wait to jump in the shower to wash the sand off! On the other hand, I was too tired & waited until the morning to shower - that's how well this product worked!

It's hard to see the sugar white sand on my feet & legs, but I did my best to show you.

When I opened the container of Sand Gone, the very first thing I noticed was the lovely tropical scent of coconuts! It smelled so good! There was a powder puff inside to apply the Sand Gone to the sandy areas with a brushing/sweeping motion. I used it in the exact same way that I would normally use my hand or towel to attempt to brush the sand off with, dipping the powder puff into the coconut scented powder often. I started off using the powder sparingly, but quickly learned not to be shy about really digging into the powder. I could see the sand flying off of my skin with each sweep. I didn't feel like I was rubbing my skin raw with sand paper, which is how I usually feel when trying to brush off sand with a towel or my hand. Instead, the Sand Gone went on smoothly & gently. All I felt was the powder & powder puff. As stated earlier, I did use the powder very generously because I found that worked best.

Here are the after pics. The white that you see near my toes in the bottom pic is the Sand Gone powder.

My hubby attempted to video me using the product. I apologize in advance for not resembling anything near a swimsuit model! The most important thing is to watch the sand flying off of me! You'll see it as little sparkly flecks. You will hear my know it all 13 year old in the background doubting that it works (gotta love teens!). However, you will literally see the sand flying off of me - especially on the 2nd leg.

Video of me testing Sand Gone

I think the video speaks volumes! However, if you're still skeptical, you can check out the videos on Sand Gone's website.

This will be a permanent part of my beach bag from now on!

Pros:

1) Smells delicious! I would use this powder any time - not just at the beach! I've been tempted to use it after baths except that the powder now has sand in it (as you would expect it to).

2) It works! I found that it removed much more sand than any other method.

3) It leaves your skin feeling so soft, & leaves a lovely tropical scent of coconuts.

4) Is a pleasant & relaxing way to remove sand. You feel like you're pampering yourself.

Cons:

1) This isn't really a con, but something I want to mention to my readers to make using the product easier for you. I think some people might try to put it on sparingly. I was guilty of that myself at first, but quickly learned that it was more effective to really dig into the powder with the powder puff.

2) I suppose some people might find ordering it online to be a con, though this doesn't bother me in the least! I tend to do most of my shopping online, but some people are a little afraid of making payments online (mostly people in a more advanced age group). Paypal is a very secure way to make payments!!!!!

3) It does take some time to rub yourself down with the powder puff, but honestly so does any other method of sand removal. I don't think there's a quick fix to getting rid of sand. :o) Besides, I found it to be pleasant & relaxing. It was so soft & smelled so good!

There you have it! I don't think there are really any cons to Sand Gone at all! If you're planning a trip to the beach, or frequently visit beaches, I highly recommend this product!

The Giveaway:

This is open to both new & existing readers. However, if you're already following me you still need to comment to let me know. This is for residents of the USA who are 18 & older only. Please play fair & enter with only one email addy. You have the opportunity to enter 6 times by completing the tasks & commenting with your name & email addy. However, the 1st task is mandatory for all entries! I will be checking to make sure that all tasks have been completed, & if they haven't the comment will be deleted. The drawing will be on August 22, 2011 at 12 Noon CST. I will use random.org to select the winner.

Mandatory Task

1) Follow me publicly with GFC. Comment with your name & email addy letting me know that you've done so. This applies to those who are already following me as well. :o)

Extra Entries

2) Subscribe via email & comment with your name & email addy.

3) Follow me on Twitter (@heartnbutterfly) & comment with your Twitter ID, name, & email addy.

4) Tweet about this Giveaway. Include the link to your Tweet, name, & email addy in your comment.

5) Follow @SANDGONE on Twitter. Comment with your Twitter ID, name, & email addy after doing so.

6) Like Sand Gone on Facebook. Post a thank you for the Giveaway on their wall & tell them that my blog sent you. Please comment with your Facebook name & email addy letting me know that you've done so.

Good luck!

What's your favorite homemade ice cream recipe?

Don't forget to enter to win an itti bitti d'lish SIO diaper! The drawing will be 8-11-11, at 12 noon CST. http://heartnbutterfly.blogspot.com/2011/07/itti-bitti-dlish-snap-in-one-cloth.html

It's the end of Summer (sadly), & apparently July was National ice cream month. I just learned that last night on the news. I'm always late finding out things!

I'm not done with Summer yet. I have a list of things I want to do yet. My family has been waiting for the nasty thunderstorms to pass, so we can go camping! We also want to hit the beach with our 5 month old baby girl for her very first time. One of the other things I want to do is get out my ice cream machine & make some homemade ice cream! Nothing says Summer to me like homemade ice cream!

I have many memories of my Momma, who is with the angels now, & I miss her dearly. One of my favorite childhood memories is of helping her make ice cream. She made many flavors - fresh peach, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee, but my all time favorite was banana pecan! Unfortunately, she wasn't one for writing her recipes down. Oh, how I wish I knew her recipe! All I remember is that she used cans of evaporated milk, sugar, I think she used one can of condensed milk, mashed bananas, & crushed pecans. I don't remember if her recipe had eggs in it or not, but I do know that she didn't cook anything first.

Can anybody help me out here? I've scoured the Internet, but can't find anything that sounds like what she used to make.

Please share your favorite ice cream recipes with me too - even ones other than banana pecan! :o) I think it would be fun to share our favorite ice cream recipes. Thanks in advance!