Yummi Pouch Reusable Snack Bag Review + Giveaway - #HolidayGiftGuide2014

Disclosure: I received samples to review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I've wanted to try reusable snack bags for months and months! Since we use cloth diapers and I wash that laundry every couple of days anyway, I knew that adding in some food containers would reduce my overall load of dishes to wash and/or the amount of plastic we are recycling - and those are both good things.

So, I was super excited when Yummi Pouch offered to send me a set of reusable bags to try out! Available in a variety of sizes and in many adorable designs, they have something to suit every need.

I received one snack size bag, one sandwich size bag, and one storage size bag. Each bag has a top zipper opening, is lined with a water-resistant interior/exterior, and is backed by a 30-day product guarantee. These bags are BPA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, and made of lead-free nylon.

And the best part? They can be washed either in the dishwasher or the washing machine (warm warm is recommended). I have not tried washing in the dishwasher yet, but have easily thrown them in with my other laundry and I love how easy this design detail makes it to keep them clean! One of my biggest fears about using cloth bags for food storage was that crumbs would be trapped in little corners...that is definitely not the case.

The snack-size bag is 4"x7" and is perfect for our everyday on-the-go snacking needs. When we're headed out for a day of errands, I can fill one of these little pouches with cereal, raisins, crackers, grapes, or whatever else my kids are currently willing to eat and have confidence that the mess will be contained in its pouch until it's time to eat the snack.

The 7"x7" sandwich bags are great for snacking, too - especially because I have picky toddlers who don't really eat sandwiches yet. I have really liked using the sandwich bag for Addie - I can put in the same amount of food that I use in a snack-sized bag, but since it is taller, it is less likely that she will spill the contents while eating!

The large Everything Storage bag is 12"x16" and is useful for so many purposes. I have used it to hold dirty cloth diapers, washcloths used while on the go, crayons and coloring pads...really, the ideas are endless! I love using water resistant bags to haul wet swimwear during the summer, too!

We love these reusable bags and will definitely purchase more to add to our collection in the future! Visit Yummi Pouch to find out more about their product selection, and shop online (use code PARTY4YP for 10% off)! You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a snack bag set from Yummi Pouch (Spunky style, shown above)! This giveaway will end on January 5 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Thank you to Yummi Pouch for providing my review sample and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

AppleCheeks Cloth Diapers Review + Micro Terry Bundle Giveaway {Cuckoo for Cloth Hop}

Disclosure: I received no compensation for posting this review. Prize will be provided by AppleCheeks. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Welcome to the Cuckoo for Cloth giveaway hop! Cloth diapers are ridiculously cute, remarkably reusable and can really help you save money. This hop exists so that you can enter to win great prizes and learn about some of the brands that those of us in the cloth diaper world just can't stop talking about! Your hosts, Zephyr Hill Blog and Irresistibly Green - and all the participating bloggers and retailers, wish you the best of luck with these giveaways - plus a successful cloth diapering experience!

After you enter my (super duper amazing) giveaway, make sure you check out the linky below and enter to win the Grand Prize - which is valued at over $175 and includes a ton of cloth diapering products! The full list is below, so keep reading!

Let's talk about cloth diapering.

I first mentioned the subject here on my blog back when Addie was around six months old. I was looking for more ways to save money and had some friends say that cloth was reducing their diaper budget significantly. I had never thought I was cut out for washing poop out of diapers on a daily basis, but with lots of encouragement and some super cute diapers out there to choose from, I finally said....okay. We'll try it.

There's a long story to my cloth journey (that I'll save for another time), but after a lot of trial and error, leaks, and elastic marks on Addie's chubby thighs, we finally found the perfect fit for our family: AppleCheeks Cloth Diapers.

Oh my goodness! The squishy baby legs!

When I figured out that AppleCheeks were my one true diaper love, I still had two kids in full-time cloth. I'm not going to kid around and act like it wasn't a ton of laundry - but it was so worth it! Since about October of last year, we have only used AppleCheeks diapers in our house and I can say with absolute certainty I'll never go back to disposables.

Whether you're brand new to the cloth world or just not familiar with AppleCheeks, I want to share some of the reasons that we love them.

An outer layer of breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a butter soft microfleece inner layer, so that only the softest of soft touches your baby’s delicate skin.

Snug, durable elastic at both the waist and legs for a gentle and secure fit.

Two rows of easy-to-adjust snaps, allowing for a proper fit at the legs and the waist.

A beautiful range of truly spectacular colours to appeal to a wide range of esthetic.

A handy envelope opening, wide enough for daddy’s hands, which allows for the option of placing the absorbent inner between the fleece and the waterproof outer layer if so desired.

A more generous and longer lasting fit than other similar styles on the market. Size 1 fits from 7 – 20lbs, and Size 2 fits from 18 – 40lbs. All weight ranges are approximate.

The ultimate cloth diapering solution!

AppleCheeks covers feature a unique envelope design, similar to a pocket diaper, but with NO NEED TO UNSTUFF. The absorbent inserts come right out in the wash!

- See more at: http://applecheeks.com/our-products/2-size-envelope-cover/#sthash.zpwtBvys.dpuf

An outer layer of breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a butter soft microfleece inner layer, so that only the softest of soft touches your baby’s delicate skin.

Snug, durable elastic at both the waist and legs for a gentle and secure fit.

Two rows of easy-to-adjust snaps, allowing for a proper fit at the legs and the waist.

A beautiful range of truly spectacular colours to appeal to a wide range of esthetic.

A handy envelope opening, wide enough for daddy’s hands, which allows for the option of placing the absorbent inner between the fleece and the waterproof outer layer if so desired.

A more generous and longer lasting fit than other similar styles on the market. Size 1 fits from 7 – 20lbs, and Size 2 fits from 18 – 40lbs. All weight ranges are approximate.

The ultimate cloth diapering solution!

AppleCheeks covers feature a unique envelope design, similar to a pocket diaper, but with NO NEED TO UNSTUFF. The absorbent inserts come right out in the wash!

- See more at: http://applecheeks.com/our-products/2-size-envelope-cover/#sthash.zpwtBvys.dpuf

5 Reasons I Love AppleCheeks!

1. They Fit. AppleCheeks is a two-size system, which means a couple of different things: there are no ugly rise snaps to contend with, and you are able to get a great fit on your baby always - from newborn to potty training. I haven't actually tested out that newborn part yet, but next time around, you can be sure I'll have a big stash on hand.

Size 1 fits from 7-20lbs and Size 2 fits from 18-40lbs - approximately. When I started using cloth, Addie already fit into Size 2, since she had the biggest baby thighs ever. The double row of snaps lets you get a perfect fit both at baby's waist and legs to ensure there is no leakage.

An outer layer of breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a butter soft microfleece inner layer, so that only the softest of soft touches your baby’s delicate skin.

Snug, durable elastic at both the waist and legs for a gentle and secure fit.

Two rows of easy-to-adjust snaps, allowing for a proper fit at the legs and the waist.

A beautiful range of truly spectacular colours to appeal to a wide range of esthetic.

A handy envelope opening, wide enough for daddy’s hands, which allows for the option of placing the absorbent inner between the fleece and the waterproof outer layer if so desired.

A more generous and longer lasting fit than other similar styles on the market. Size 1 fits from 7 – 20lbs, and Size 2 fits from 18 – 40lbs. All weight ranges are approximate.

The ultimate cloth diapering solution!

AppleCheeks covers feature a unique envelope design, similar to a pocket diaper, but with NO NEED TO UNSTUFF. The absorbent inserts come right out in the wash!

- See more at: http://applecheeks.com/our-products/2-size-envelope-cover/#sthash.zpwtBvys.dpuf

An outer layer of breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a butter soft microfleece inner layer, so that only the softest of soft touches your baby’s delicate skin.

Snug, durable elastic at both the waist and legs for a gentle and secure fit.

Two rows of easy-to-adjust snaps, allowing for a proper fit at the legs and the waist.

A beautiful range of truly spectacular colours to appeal to a wide range of esthetic.

A handy envelope opening, wide enough for daddy’s hands, which allows for the option of placing the absorbent inner between the fleece and the waterproof outer layer if so desired.

A more generous and longer lasting fit than other similar styles on the market. Size 1 fits from 7 – 20lbs, and Size 2 fits from 18 – 40lbs. All weight ranges are approximate.

The ultimate cloth diapering solution!

AppleCheeks covers feature a unique envelope design, similar to a pocket diaper, but with NO NEED TO UNSTUFF. The absorbent inserts come right out in the wash!

- See more at: http://applecheeks.com/our-products/2-size-envelope-cover/#sthash.zpwtBvys.dpuf

2. They Have Great Design. These diapers are created with an outer layer of breathable, waterproof polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL), sewn to a super soft microfleece inner layer that touches baby's skin. Addie was having constant breakouts and rashes from the disposables we used before switching to AppleCheeks, so this was a huge relief to me! The outer PUL is so soft - it is not scratchy or glossy like some other brands we tried. I love the matte finish.

The diapers themselves are a cover, so you can choose how to use them (more on that later), but you have lots of options for absorbancy. Choose from AppleCheeks 2-ply bamboo insert (what we use for daytime), 3-play bamboo insert (what we use for nighttime) or the more economically friendly micro terry insert. There are also bamboo boosters which can be uesd overnight, on long car trips, or for heavy wetters. There's a way to make AppleCheeks work for you!

Plus - they create the amazing "fluffy bum" look without adding an extra size or two to the baby's diaper area. Addie has never needed different sized clothing to compensate for her AppleCheeks-attired bum.

3. They Are Ridiculously Beautiful. In addition to their fabulous design, AppleCheeks owners Amy and Ilana have taken great pains to make these (in my somewhat humble opinion) the most beautiful diapers on the market! There is a vast rainbow to choose from at any time, and colors are always coming and going in limited releases and from special retailers. Keeping up with AppleCheeks is a full time, super fun hobby.

And then there are the RUFFLES. They just deserve their own paragraph. Because they are so, so, so amazingly adorable. Tell me you aren't smiling when you see the photos of these ruffly diapers on my kids. I mean, really.

Size 1 Stash....for future babies!

4. They Are Super Easy to Wash. I tried a lot of pocket diaper brands, and the thing that totally grossed me out was having to un-stuff the inserts before washing them. Who wants to reach their hand into a soiled diaper and pull out a stinky insert - over and over and over again? With my AppleCheeks, I just throw the whole lot of dirty diapers in the wash and the inserts agitate right out. No nastiness needed.

Did I mention they have the cutest swim diapers, too?
SO much cuter than disposables!

5. They Work. This is the most important part, right? Of course it is! You can use your AppleCheeks in two different ways: as a pocket diaper or an all-in-two. We typically use the pocket method and it's great. The only time I have leaks is if I have forgotten to change Addie or the snaps aren't tight enough. The pocket opening is large enough to allow for the extra absorbent layers in the case of heavy wetters - or nighttime wear.

Both of my kids still sleep in AppleCheeks overnight, and we love them! Cloth diapering makes me feel better about how we use our resources and I'm especially excited to know that we'll be able to use our diapers again for the next baby! The savings really add up.

Addie wants you to know that Size 1 diapers are excellent for toys to wear.

AppleCheeks offers a full lineup of products for your cloth diapering needs, and once you understand how cloth works, this system just makes sense.

Wearing "Love Happens" at her last pediatrician appointment.

There's also a fantastic online community of moms who love AppleCheeks just as much as I do. There are several groups I frequent to chat about the AppleCheeks love with those mamas. If you follow me on Instagram, this will come as no great surprise - but sometimes, while participating in these online communities, I am prompted to do some very interesting things with my diapers.

Like send them on an expedition into my deep freezer.

My diapers are quite brave.

Oh, and wear them. Sometimes I do that, too.

Fashionista? Free spirit? You choose.

AppleCheeks, you rock. If you're a cloth diapering mama (or even just considering the idea), please give my favorite brand a try! I'm sure you'll fall in love with them, too. Follow along with AppleCheeks on social media - they have awesome interaction on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram - plus their reveal videos on YouTube are beyond hilarious.

Have you tried AppleCheeks on your baby? What did you think?!

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a micro terry bundle from AppleCheeks! This bundle includes an AppleCheeks cover of winner's choice of color/size (regular line up colors). This giveaway will end on June 17 at 11:59pm CST.  This giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers only.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well.  All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once you have finished entering my giveaway, hop on over and enter all of the other fantastic giveaways, too! And don't forget to enter to win the Grand Prize - it's valued at over $175 and includes 3 Incredibum Bamboo AI2 diapers, 3 Diaper Safari pocket diapers, Grandma El's rash cream, a Wolbybug wet bag, a set of 3 Planet Wise snack bags, EcoSprout diaper liners, an EcoSprout Coconut Stick, and a pair of (gender-neutral) bumGenius BabyLegs!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for posting this review. Prize will be provided by AppleCheeks and Director Jewels is not responsible for prize fulfillment. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

Kansas City Door to Door Organics {Review + Coupon Code}

Disclosure: I received a gift card to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. I'm still subscribing to Door to Door Organics out of my own pocket, so please believe me when I say this is a great service.
 
There are two things you should know about me and grocery shopping.

1. I feel strongly about feeding my family the best foods available - whole, organic food whenever possible.

2. I despise going to the grocery store. It is seriously one of my least favorite tasks ever.

So, when I heard about Door to Door Organics, a grocery delivery service here in Kansas City, I honestly thought it was probably too good to be true - or far too expensive to consider. However, I was growing really tired of having limited organic produce selections at any of the grocery stores I frequent. I can get Red Delicious apples and bananas at Target - but if I want broccoli or carrots, I have to make a separate trip to HyVee or Nature's Pantry or even Whole Foods. And all of this is usually done with both kids in tow - so you can probably imagine that the process gets old very quickly.

Door to Door Organics provides a way to shop for groceries online and have them delivered - fresh - to your door. Here's how it works -

1. Select a produce box.
2. Choose a delivery day.
3. Set preferences for your likes and dislikes.
4. Customize your order each week.
5. Shop for additional groceries (if desired).

That's it. There's no separate delivery fee or any hidden charges. I was pretty excited to try it out.

There are four box sizes to choose from: Bitti, Small, Medium, and Large. Most sizes can be customized with all fruit, all vegetables, or a mixture of the two. What comes in each week's box is predetermined by Door to Door Organics, but you are allowed five substitutions per week. We are really picky eaters here, and so far the five substitutions have been just right to make sure we have produce that won't go to waste. The produce is all certified USDA Organic and is locally sourced whenever possible.

In addition to the produce boxes, there is an entire online grocery store featuring wonderful whole food products that can be added on to your order each week, with no additional delivery fee! I was so excited to find local bread and eggs available in the store.

We've received two subscription boxes so far, and I'm in love. Price-wise, I don't think I am paying much more (if any) than I would for the same organic produce at my local store - especially when I take into consideration all the times I have driven to two or more stores in search of an item. With the delivery included, Door to Door Organics provides a great value.

For our first delivery, I selected the Small Mixed Produce box. Here's what it contained -

-1 lb Red Potatoes
-3 Valencia Oranges
-2 Russet Potatoes
-1 Garlic Bulb
-3 Kiwi Fruit 
-1 lb Carrots
-2 Mango
-3 Gala Apples
-3 Bartlett Pears
-5 Bananas
-1 Granny Smith Apple 

I also added to our order (outside of the produce box):
-Stacey's Organic 8 in Whole Wheat Tortillas
-Bread of Life Whole Wheat Bread
-1 Dozen La Ferme du Bonheur Farm Fresh Eggs
-1 lb Strawberries

My total cost for all this food? $51.86.

The delivery itself was perfect. I selected "please don't ring my doorbell" because I never have any idea if my kids might be asleep when deliveries arrive. There was no announcement that my delivery arrived at all - it was just quietly left on my porch. I was excited to bring it in and check out all the food goodness inside!

Farm fresh eggs carefully wrapped.

Door to Door Organics reuses or recycles all of their packing materials - boxes, ice packs, everything. When I unpack my box, I just toss everything back inside and leave it in a spot where I will remember to set it outside on my next delivery day. Bloggers tend to have a lot more mail than normal people, and I have piles of packing supplies and boxes in my house - I'm very glad to have a designated place for this set of packaging to go.

I've talked about the service, the contents, and the delivery - but what about the quality?

I'm pleased to say that the quality is spectacular. I like to pick out my own produce in the store, and I scrutinize each piece to make sure I'm not spending hard-earned money on bruised or spoiled fruit and veggies. This was clearly a hand-picked order, with great quality all around. Even the box of strawberries (what I was most worried about) were beautiful.

I won't always be able to include the add-ons like bread, eggs, and tortillas - but they were so delicious! I'm thrilled to know I have the option if we have the financial freedom to order them with our box delivery.

Our second delivery has arrived as well. I switched us over to a Bitty box, since that's a little more budget friendly. It contained the following -

-8 Bananas
-2 Kiwi Fruit
-1 Mango
-2 Russet Potatoes
-1 bunch Broccoli
-1 lb Carrots
-4 Valencia Oranges
-2 Lemons

Our Bitty box total was $26.13 plus tax. Again, by the time I take into consideration driving to multiple stores to find all the produce I need, this is definitely a deal. There has been a lot of yummy smoothie making in our house this past week! Lincoln and Addie scarfed down smoothies that contained kiwi, strawberries, oranges, broccoli, and carrots. And that makes this mama happy!

Door to Door Organics has been around since 2004. Their mission is simple -  to establish access to nutritious food to every resident of Kansas City and beyond. We are working to expand the market for agriculture that enriches the earth and all of us. We enable people to enjoy healthy lifestyles and great-tasting organic produce.
If you're in KC and want to try out the service, use coupon code jewels to get $10 off your first order!

You can follow along on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news. Make sure you check out the upcoming free Kansas City event Taste of Local 2014 for a sampling of all Door to Door Organics has to offer!

Do you shop for local, organic foods? Do you think this service would benefit your family?

80,000 Is A Really Big Number {#FightToxins}

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Millennial Central for Seventh Generation. I received a promotional item and product samples as a thank you for participating. All opinions expressed are my own.

Does anyone else spend an awful lot of time worrying about the contents of food and products that come into contact with their kids? I know it can't be just me. After Lincoln's birth, I started really researching things like household cleaners and their toxic contents. I have always been aware that you shouldn't ingest cleaning products, but the knowledge takes on a whole new meaning when you live with a mobile infant who is teething.

Here in the US, there are over 80,000 available chemicals that have never been fully tested for their toxic effects on our health and environment (source: National Resources Defense Council). I find that pretty discouraging. Moms have enough to worry about without having to wonder if we are exposing our kids to toxins that may cause cancer, Alzheimer's, asthma, or learning disabilities.

I don't know about you, but I think those stats are a little scary.

The first thing I did after I did more research was to stop using products that contain chemicals I don't trust. I'm a big fan of Seventh Generation, a brand that knows parents are looking for better products for their homes. I feel better about my responsibility to take care of my family when I know that my toddlers won't be ingesting something dangerous when they lick the floor (yes...this happens).

I also signed Seventh Generation's petition to Congress to reevaluate the Toxic Substances Control Act for the first time since 1976. If consumers don't demand that the products we use are safe, we can't complain when they are not. Will you sign the petition as well and join me as a Toxin Freedom Fighter? Click the badge to sign now and #FightToxins with me!

The goal is to gather 100,000 signatures and right now the petition is so close at over 95,000!

We're striving to be greener all around this year - in our diet, our carbon footprint, and the way we clean our house. I'm not going to lie - it's kind of overwhelming, and it's a lot of work. But for these two?

It's so worth it.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Millennial Central for Seventh Generation. I received a promotional item and product samples as a thank you for participating. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.