When it comes to using detergent you need to use a good, solid formula that is 100% non-toxic, biodegradable and contains no perfumes or dyes. If you use the wrong kind of detergent, you will end up with residue on your diapers which will result in leaks. Finding a formula that meets all the requirements of a good cloth diapering detergent yet will also CLEAN your diapers, is hard to come by these days and that is exactly where Thirsties comes into the picture.

Pre-Wash: The active antimicrobial ingredients in the pre-wash will wash away bacteria on your soiled diapers and help losen the waste so that it can easily rinse away, which also help remove and prevent stains. You only have to use 1/2 oz in your initial cold wash/rinse and the dispenser makes it SUPER easy to measure the correct amount and pour it into your washing machine!

Super Wash: Well, I can’t really say it any better than the Thirsties website does… The amazing probiotic component of Thirsties® Super Wash actually introduces constructive bacteria to your wash which reduces odors and diaper rash. It really is amazing stuff. Again, you only have to use 1/2 oz in your hot wash (and add an extra rinse for good measure) and the dispenser makes it SUPER easy to measure the correct amount and pour it into your washing machine.

My Opinion: GREAT stuff!! This stuff has been added to my “Top 2″ list of cloth diaper detergents and I will be using this on all of my diaper laundry for now on. I’ve even started using it on my daughter’s clothing! My diapers are smelling fresh and clean these days.. My diapers haven’t been THIS clean since I started cloth diapering and my microfiber inserts that were repelling are absorbent again. $19 for the Pre-Wash, $20 for the Super Wash or $32 for both and each bottle does 64 (SIXTY FOUR!) loads of laundry. That means that if you wash your diapers every other day, these bottles will last you about 3 MONTHS! Maybe even longer!

My Advice: If you have leaky diapers and are looking for a good diaper detergent to use, try this stuff out! It really is amazing. Also, I soaked all of my inserts in hot water in my washing machine with 1 oz of the pre-wash and then did another soak in 1oz of the super wash in hot water as well. I did this two times due to the amount of build up and residue on my diapers and they are FANTASTICLY brand-new again! They are clean, smell great and are whiter than ever before.

The wonderful crew at Thirsties are giving away a Pre-Wash/Super Wash set to one lucky viewer!

HOW TO ENTER:

Just leave a comment on this entry telling me what your CURRENT diaper wash routine is (what kind of detergent, how often you wash, how you wash, etc.). This entry will end December 30th at 9:00 AM CST! Good luck!

I was fortunate enough to have a whiff of a few of the perfume oils from Wiggle Perfume. My fave one of them all was Maggie. It’s kind of like a grown-up lemon cookie sexy scent layered with cinnamon and Egyptian musk. And another good thing, they last ALL day. No joke. I will put the scent on in the morning and come back in the late afternoon/evening and still smell like Maggie. It’s awesome! Another scent I like a lot is 27. It smells clean and fresh and, even though it’s technically a men’s fragrance, I still walk around wearing it. It’s a scent that contains sweetgrass, hemp, tomato leaf, pine, and woodsmoke. And odd combination it sounds like, but it smells absolutely fabulous. I also love the fact that many different areas of the United States are used to name and describe her scents, including one of my favorite spots (Little 5 Points) in my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. As for my sweet tooth, there was a Pumpkin Amber scent that was so sweet and reminded me of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. There were many more scents that I liked, but I’ll only name a few. No matter what your perfume style is, Wiggle Perfume is bound to have one scent you’ll love. Find your signature scent today!

The Dirty Housewife’s most impressive creations have to be the handcrafted soaps. Each bar of soap is a piece of art! Some of them contain silver leaf, mica dust, and one type of bar even contains a small pewter heart as a keepsake! They look AND smell wonderful. I got to sample the Blush soap, which is The Dirty Housewife’s signature scent. It smells of roses, permisson, coconut milk, and deep wood, and makes you smell all flirty and pretty! I liked it a lot. However if you want to smell like dessert, there is a section of her shop dedicated to dessert soaps! Apple pie, milk chocolate, and lemon poppyseed muffin are just a few of the dessert soaps, and there are many more that are beautifully crafted and smell absolutely AMAZING. Also in the shop there are candles, anti-aging products, and body polishes. If you want some great soap or something to have you feeling and smelling good, The Dirty Housewife will clean you up and have you feeling awesome!

The Tummy Cast is perfect for capturing your growing belly. Since I was put on bed rest at 29 weeks, I didn’t know how long she would stay in there. I wanted to wait until my belly was big and the Tummy Cast would look perfect. Therefore, last night at 33.2 weeks of pregnancy, my husband and I accomplished the Tummy Cast. I didn’t want to wait too long and not be able to do it and I didn’t want to be so huge that I was uncomfortable. Not only was the Tummy Cast a wonderful experience, it was also a little romantic. The prep time was the easiest, the actual procedure was the best part, and pulling it off was probably the worst.

The Tummy Cast comes with everything you will need to create the perfect casting of your belly. The process is extremely messy, so use the drape provided. My husband prepped the casting, which required cutting strips, getting the water, and setting up the “scene.” Vaseline is included in the kit, USE ALL OF IT! This is probably one of the most valuable pieces of information you will ever receive. We used all of it, but we decided to add some strips near my back and decided not to put Vaseline there. Lets just say I was almost in tears and in pain when pulling the plaster off. But, in place where we applied the Vaseline, the plaster came off smoothly. Another piece of advice, my husband hated using the gloves. He said he couldn’t feel the strips of paper and the paper would crinkle and twist when he used the gloves. Therefore, he did put everything on with bare hands.

The overall experience was very rewarding. The casting takes approximately 20 minutes and you need to wait an additional 10 minutes after placing the last strip before removing the cast. Remove it slowly and wiggle a bit, this helps release it from your skin. I was actually too worried to go down too far with the casting because of hair reasons, so ours didn’t make a full belly shape. But, we kept enough strips to form the cast once it dries. Drying time takes 48 hours and once you fix the cast how you like by sanding, cutting, and adding additional strips, you can decorate. We are going to wait until Hannah is born and put her feet and hand prints on the casting.

Tummy Tickles understands the expectant mother’s desire to capture every moment possible during pregnancy. Therefore, Tummy Tickles is giving away a Tummy Cast Kit to one lucky reader of The Army Wife.

HOW TO WIN:

You must visit Tummy Tickles and choose another product you would like to have. Or, you can leave a comment letting me know how you would decorate your tummy cast.

Additional Entries:

1.) Follow The Army Wife on Twitter

2.) Subscribe to The Army Wife through e-mail

3.) Tweet about the contest

4.) Blog about the contest

CONTEST END: December 31, 2009

Using the sugar wax was a very interesting experience, but I can’t say that I was disappointed! I had tried a little wax before, but didn’t ever go through with it. To use, I had the wax, a wooden applicator stick, and a piece of cloth. You’re supposed to apply a layer of wax to the hair, smooth the cloth onto the top of the wax and, when you’re ready, yank it off to remove the hair. This could be done with hot or cold wax… I chose the cold route because I didn’t want to burn myself AND rip my hair out. So, the first round took a while because I had to mentally prepare myself for this ordeal. It took out a good bit of hair, which surprised me! After doing a few more sections more and more hair came out, and even though there were a few strays, those could easily be tweezed or removed with a quick run-through with the razor. The only thing I did not like was the fact that I had to keep washing off the wax and hair from the cloth before I used it again, but it’s environmentally friendly because you’re not using a bunch of disposable strips, so I can’t really complain. Overall it was a great outcome, and anyone having trouble with hair removal techniques and enjoys using natural products in every aspect of their life whether it’s soap, wax, or candles, Country Heart Gifts is your place to shop!

The Supreme Snuggle Nest is going to be very beneficial in our household, even if we don’t have a preemie. Not only does it make co-bedding easier and safer, but it is equipped with many functions to make bed time easier for baby (and parents!). The features include:

*Slide-in light with soothing womb sounds by Pediasleep.com, gentle music, and soft light for calming and checking baby.

*Open-weave mesh fabric inside and out for improved air flow around baby.

*Waterproof mattress with removable, machine washable sheet.

*Mesh-covered positioners help baby stay in proper sleeping position.

*Gives parents easy access for soothing baby, while accommodating baby’s growth.

*Easy-fold Design

There are three different patterns with the Supreme Snuggle Nest, pink, green and neutral. We wanted something neutral, just in case we decide to have another little one after our little girl. The Supreme Snuggle Nest is sold in stores and online with a retail value of $60.00. The Supreme Snuggle Nest would be the perfect baby shower gift and will ease parents concerns during bed time.