Archive for the ‘Specials’ Category
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14
May
2013
Baby K’tan Review & Giveaway: The Wrap without the Wrapping!
My daughter is currently 10 months old and while she is walking fairly consistently, I’m not comfortable letting her free to run around outside. I love baby wearing because it eliminates the need for a stroller and keeps my hands free. Because let’s face it… babies nap better and longer when they’re closer to a parent. Before I know it, I won’t be able to carry her around so I’m enjoying it now!
Baby K’tan recently sent us one of their amazing carriers to review*. While we reviewed quite a few baby wearing carriers, Baby K’tan wasn’t on our list simply because we hadn’t had the opportunity to try it! Retailing at $49.95, I couldn’t justify buying one when no one I know had tried it. Yes, we moms rely on word-of-mouth referrals.
So even though this carrier is fairly new on the market, it has quickly become one of my favorites. In fact, as I’m typing up this review, my daughter is currently asleep comfortably in the Baby K’tan. When I pop her in, she’s asleep within minutes! The closeness and snuggle factor this wrap provides is very comforting for baby and comfortable for me. Want one? Enter our Giveaway below!
5 Reasons Why we Love the Baby K’Tan Carrier
It’s versatile! You can wear baby so many ways from 8-35 pounds. Wear your newborn (or TWINS!) up to toddler in a cradle carry, hip carry, facing you, facing away from you, on your back, etc! I was especially thrilled by the FORWARD FACING option. I refused to carry my children forward facing in any other carrier because I felt uncomfortable having them dangle by their crotch and putting the weight on their spines. With the Baby K’Tan, the baby is supported by the fabric in a seated position so the weight is on their bottoms and not their crotches. The carrier itself doesn’t look like it would support baby because it’s so soft, but the fabric is not as stretchy as the Moby Wrap.- It’s compact and not bulky. As much as I LOVE the Ergo Baby, the carrier itself is very bulky. Working at home with a sleeping baby asleep in the Baby K’tan is comfortable and it moves with you as many wraps do. I can sit at the table or on the couch working without feeling like the carrier rises up on my body. So this carrier feels just like a wrap, without all the wrapping! I can even comfortably carry a diaper bag or purse without it sliding off my shoulders. SCORE!
It’s quite supportive. When the straps are correctly crossed at the center of your body, the weight of baby is evenly distributed across your back and shoulders (when baby is in the front). The carrier holds baby very tight against your body for support. I don’t know if I would want to carry a 35 pound child in the wrap though.- It’s convenient to carry. The wrap folds up and fits into a little pouch built into the carrier. This keeps the carrier clean and packed up nicely to store and carry with you. The second piece that wraps around baby and body reverses and everything is stuffed into the little pocket with a draw string.
- It’s machine washable! As a mom, I refuse to utilize anything often if it cannot be thrown into the wash!
Check out the video below comparing the Baby K’Tan to a traditional wrap style baby carrier!
- These carriers are sized (i.e. XS, S, M, L). So if you and your partner are different sizes, you would have to get two different sizes. For example, I wear an XS but my husband would need a L.
- It’s not adjustable so it didn’t look like it will fit at first. Plus, because of the design, the carrier must fit tightly against your body. This may be uncomfortable for some people, especially if you are in between sizes because when choosing the right size, you must go down a size if you are on the fence.
- It is a unique design and can be challenging to learn how to use correctly. Like any carrier, it took me several days of practicing before I felt comfortable attempting to pop my daughter in in public. The carrier does come with an instruction manual that I studied and followed the provided steps, but Youtube also has several videos to help you learn how to use the carrier correctly. I have yet to master the back carry with the Baby K’tan.
- The standard Baby K’tan comes in 5 colors: Heather Grey, Eggplant, Basic Black, Warm Cocoa Brown, Sage Green.
- Baby K’tan also has an Organic and “BREEZE” option. We chose to review the Eggplant Baby K’tan carrier. On hot Sacramento days like today, I carry my daughter in just a diaper and with no zippers or buckles, I don’t have to worry about her sensitive skin. But in addition to a few organic options, Baby K’tan also has a BREEZE carrier that is made of a soft and breathable mesh fabric that will keep you and your baby cool on hot summer days.
FINALLY… ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to Baby K’tan, we have one carrier to giveaway. The GIVEAWAY starts 5/14/2013. The winner will be selected by random and we will announce the winner on our blog and Facebook page after the deadline of 5/26/2013. The winner will be emailed instructions how to claim their selected size and color of the Baby K’tan carrier.
TO ENTER:
- Like us on Facebook!
- Like Baby K’Tan on Facebook!
- Leave us a comment on THIS BLOG POST below with the following information: (a) Confirming that you liked Chic Baby AND Baby K’tan on Facebook, (b) Share why you want a Baby K’Tan Carrier, (c) Share something new you learned about the Baby K’Tan in this blog post.
- Make sure you follow our Facebook page as we will be announcing the winner!
We will be contacting the winner at the end of the month! Good luck!
*NOTE: Baby K’Tan sent us a carrier to review and we are not being compensated for this review.
9
Jan
2013
Product Review: A Happy Green Life Laundry Wash
I chose to use A Happy Green Life laundry wash because my diapers were smelling no matter what I did! AND to add fuel to the fire, just recently, we were hit with the dreaded red-burning rash. We attributed it to too much citrus – our son was addicted to clementines – but after a little research I realized it may be from ammonia build up on the diapers.
I stripped using RLR, I soaked over-night using Bac-Out, I used less laundry detergent, I used MORE detergent, I added one, then two, then THREE extra rinses – still the same funky stench radiated from the diapers not even ten minutes after snapping them on my toddler. I even resorted to taking all the diapers over to my sister’s house and using her “Sanitary Cycle,” only to find the stink returned after 1-2 washes. What else could I possibly do?
In addition, I am “blessed” with an HE washer, which is great for the environment, but horrible when it comes to washing cloth diapers. I have spent hours and days washing, and rinsing, and re-washing the diapers that CD’ing has become less than “environmentally friendly” with all the extra washes and rinses I do to “clean” my diapers.
What I initially adored about this brand of laundry wash was it was created and owned by Sacramento moms. Not only do we like natural and eco-friendly options for our families, but we LOVE supporting our local WAHMs (work at home moms). To learn more about this new mom-owned Sacramento-based company, visit their “about” page. (You can also check out their blog for happy and healthy living choices.)
Step ONE – (Re)Wash the diapers
To begin my trial run of A Happy Green Life laundry wash (Trick-Or-Treat scent), I divided my diapers up into three different loads – wanting to keep the amount of water suitable to the cloth inserts.
The first thing I noticed when using the laundry wash was there were no suds or bubbles. All the other laundry detergents I used in the past has bubbled up (and even RLR revealed MORE bubbles). According to A Happy Green Life’s website, “[they] do not use any soap in [their] laundry wash. Soap flakes leave residue build up on clothes and diapers which is not good. Suds are completely superficial and offer no actual cleaning power.” Interesting. I will never be able to wash my hands without thinking about the useless suds.
Load #1: I had about 6 dirty diapers. First, I ran my usual cold rinse before putting ½ a scoop into the “powder” part of my washer. I noticed a little bit was left in the dispenser. These were dirty diapers, so I set it the washer to “Super Wash” with an extra rinse. They came out smelling normal and didn’t have the same funky sweet smell (aka. diaper stink covered up by the smell of laundry detergent). I tossed them in the dryer on low.
Load #2: I had about 7 clean diapers, but I wanted to rewash with the new laundry wash. I ran a cold rinse before sprinkling ½ a scoop directly on the diapers (in the washer). Since they were clean diapers, I just set it on a normal wash cycle with an extra rinse and tossed them in the dryer on low.
Load #3: Finally, I had about 4 dirty diapers. I first ran my cold rinse then sprinkled ½ a scoop directly on the diapers as I did with Load #2. Finally, I set the washer to “Super Wash” with extra rinse. I also tossed these in the dryer on low.
So far, less fuss and less stench during the washing and drying phase.
Step TWO – Using the diapers
Before nap, I put one of the diapers from Load #1 onto my toddler. So far, I am pleased. No funky smell after the wash. After he woke up from nap, I checked his diaper and there was a mild ammonia smell. Load #2 and Load #3 were the same. They smelled normal out of the washer; they didn’t even smell like the laundry wash. However, after removing them and tossing into the wet bags, I still noticed a mild ammonia smell.
Step THREE – The Verdict
Overall, I am happy with the laundry wash. I am almost relieved the diapers don’t smell sickly sweet like laundry detergent. The smell of ammonia covered up by laundry detergent was almost worse than smelling it for what it is.
Next round of washings, I will try and add more detergent and see if that helps with the smell. I am also tempted to try an overnight soak, but I will have to fill our bathtub and let the diapers sit overnight.
Pros: Great detergent if you are looking for no residue or buildup on diapers. Another plus is no more painful red rashes! Since my son has very sensitive skin (ezcema year-round), we haven’t had another flareup since switching to HGL. (My son is STILL recovering (itchy dry skin) from his last breakout).
Cons: The diapers still have an ammonia smell after he urinates in them. I’m not sure if I will ever be able to be rid of it.
If you would like a sample of A Happy Green Life laundry wash, pick one up at our next Sign, Say & Play series!
30
Nov
2012
2012 Holiday Shopping Mixer
While we are business owners, we are first and foremost moms. We have cultivated friendships with other moms in Sacramento, many of us either working out of the home or working from home. We have found a way to help support our families financially while being there for our children.
So working with some other work at home moms in Sacramento, we founded the Sacramento WAHM Consultant Network to provide support and networking opportunities to help grow our businesses. After what seems like a whirlwind month of November, we put together a 2012 Holiday Shopping Mixer!
Sacramento WAHM Presents:
We are very excited as this is a great way to not only get some holiday shopping done without the mall, but also support local Sacramento WAHMs! Please click on the image to the left to link to the flyer for more information.
So get some stress-free shopping done and have the opportunity to get some GREAT raffle prizes just by showing up! Besides signing up or purchasing a gift certificate for some Baby Signs® classes, book a Passion Party, pamper yourself with some Arbonne products, cutesy up your children with handmade bows and tutus, pick up some handmade jewelry, and more! We have great products available for shopping, so bring your families and finish up the holiday season with great gifts!
2012 Holiday Shopping Mixer
Come check us out at the Anatolia Clubhouse in Rancho Cordova!
See the map below.
Where: 11828 Chrysanthy Blvd, Rancho Cordova
When: 12/9/2012 (Sunday)
Time: 2:00-5:00pm
View Larger Map
5
Oct
2012
50% off Photobooks on Shutterfly
I don’t know about you, but I have so many photos sitting on my computer that I’d rather put into a Shutterfly photobook than print photos. I LOVE photobooks and love to pick up a stack of them and flip through pictures of my kids to see how much they have changed. For busy families, photobooks are the way to go. I try to pick up Groupon deals for photobooks when I see them, but sometimes those deals are tricky…
Half off Photobooks!
So I couldn’t help but share that for the WEEKEND ONLY, you can get Shutterfly photobooks 50% off! This is a great deal so there really is no excuse to procrastinate creating those photobooks. This is the deal you have been waiting for!
So I’m heading over to Shutterfly this weekend to finally upload those folders of pictures and create some photobooks (maybe more than a few because I’m thinking of holiday gifts for grandparents). But hurry because this offer expires on Sunday, 10/7/2012.
USE PROMO CODE: BIGBOOK
What a way to kick off fall! 
18
Sep
2012
Scrapbooking Made Easy
If you’re anything like me, then you probably have a Love-Hate relationship with scrapbooking. I LOVE that I can be creative and catalog memories. During the pregnancy with my son four years ago, I started a scrapbook and spent hours arranging photos and backgrounds with cute stickers. However, that was short lived. I completed maybe three pages… and the rest is history.
I got busy with, well, life! Even though I stayed home with my son until he was almost a year, I have no idea where the time went. The scrapbook has looked the same for the past three years and to my disappointment, I haven’t had a chance to work on it. And now that my daughter is a couple months old, I’m organizing photos and making a genuine effort to get at least one “baby” scrapbook done for each child. I can Shutterfly my heart’s desire, but I still want to get at least one scrapbook done before they graduate from high school!
Close to My Heart
Then I had the opportunity to meet Emily Wilke through a new mom’s support group and discovered that she holds “crop nights,” which are essentially a “girl’s night out” where you get to work on your scrapbooking skills. SCORE! So when I found out I could host a crop night, I quickly volunteered so I could socialize AND be productive scrapbooking.
So what is Close to My Heart? Well in my amateur opinion, it’s a way to make scrapbooking ridiculously easy with great products that are practical so you can easily utilize your creative side. And Close to My Heart says: “We show you how to celebrate relationships through discovering your creativity, to preserve and share the moments that matter most.” They say it better
Four reasons we love it:
- Close to My Heartmakes scrapbooking realistic and beautiful with less work,
- We are able to support other local and mom-based businesses,
- We have fun,
- And we get to make new friends!
So Join us!
So are you interested in Close to My Heart and hosting a party? Well, Emily’s next Crop Night that will be held on September 23rd at 3:00pm in Natomas. This is an Afternoon Tea themed event that has limited space, so RSVP is required. We do ask that you leave your children at home* as there will be scrapbooking materials strewn about. If you would like to attend, go ahead and use our Contact Form for more information. Otherwise, contact Emily directly for hosting your own crop night!
*Young babies that are not mobile are welcome.
