Rave: Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes Live up to the Name

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

**Random.org chose Une Autre Mere as the winner! Congratulations!**

A few years ago, for the first time ever, I experienced love-at-first-site bliss -- with a pair of extremely chic red leather high-heeled boots.

The first time I wore them, I felt beyond stylish strutting around the city on a date with my hubby.

Those boots were hot.

But they killed my feet and have remained hot in my closet ever since.

I know -- it pretty much defeats the purpose of having cute boots when they better decorate the inside of your dressing area than your feet.

Since then, I've sacrificed beauty in favor of comfort, rarely finding shoes where the two elements blend.

And then, a few months ago, Melissa was introduced to Hotter Comfort Concept, a shoe company that has deep roots in the UK but is just now expanding into North America.

Hotter offered to send Melissa, Sarah and I each a pair of shoes to try and see if they lived up to the Hotter promise: ultimate comfort combined with beautiful style.

So I picked a pair of boots -- mostly because I really want to wear boots but I've been scared to buy another pair after my red-heeled debacle.

The day my Hotter boots arrived -- soft suede ankle boots named Pixie in soft gray -- I tore open the box, and they were, indeed, hot.

But I knew: looks weren't everything.

I immediately put them on, intent on putting them to the ultimate test right away -- a walk to the park with my boys.

I wasn't going to let myself get attached to these beautiful boots if I couldn't, you know, wear them. {Because, my red boots don't need a life partner as they look beautiful in my closet.}

After we returned from our romp around the park, I knew how these boots got their name: they very apparently are Hotter because you can actually wear them comfortably without forfeiting beauty.


And for a woman who refuses to walk around limping after wearing a pair of cute shoes, Hotter shoes haven't just found a space in my closet, they've found a permanent home on my soles -- I've worn them nearly every day for more than a month.

My only suggestion? Buy your normal size rather than relying on the company's print-out size guide. I ordered a size nine rather than my normal eight and a half because of the size guide {which hubby helped me print, put together and use, so I'm pretty sure I measured correctly}, and I found the boots a smidge too big.

I decided to keep the shoes because with boots I often wear heavier socks as the air cools, and I'm very pleased with the fit. {However, with shoes, I probably would have had to exchange for the smaller size. Though, with Hotter, the exchange seemed like it would have been painless and easy, as a return slip with shipping label was included.}

Do you need hotter shoes than what you're currently sporting?

Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes has graciously has offered to give away a pair of shoes to one of my friends here! {How awesome is that?!}

To gain an entry, simply tell visit the Hotter shoes site, and share which ones you'd pick {don't forget the color!}

For extra entries {make sure to leave a comment for each one completed}, you can:
*Like Hotter on Facebook
*Tweet: I want my feet to look chic AND feel comfortable, so I'm hoping to win a pair of @HotterShoes from @HyacynthW. {include link: http://www.undercovermother.net/2010/11/rave-hotter-comfort-concept-shoes-live.html}
*Facebook post: I want my feet to look chic and comfortable, so I'm hoping to win a pair of @HotterComfortConceptShoest from @UndercoverMother. {include link: http://www.undercovermother.net/2010/11/rave-hotter-comfort-concept-shoes-live.html}

Trust my review and just want to order a pair of Hotter shoes {or provide hubby with a highly appealing Christmas hint}? Here's a 10 percent off coupon code provided by Hotter valid through Feb. 1, 2011: USABLG

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Entries must be in by Friday, Nov. 12 at noon CST. Winner chosen by Random.org.

Rave: 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap

There's always a little room to grow.

Unless, of course, we're talking about my baby carrier stash. My husband politely pointed out that perhaps my stash was large enough when it had to be housed in a full suitcase instead of a carry on sized one. I parred down the stash so it could go back to the smaller suitcase, and I didn't buy any other carriers even after we found out we were expecting another baby. And even though I'm a bit of a carrier addict, it was all right with me because I really thought I had everything I could ever need.

Of course, though, when baby EJ came along, he proved me wrong because he didn't like any of the carriers I loved so much -- not one! He only liked [read: he didn't squawk like a dying bird while in it] a wonderful muslin ring sling lent to me by a friend. Though I loved the ring sling, when baby EJ breached 12 pounds at 5 weeks, I began wishing he liked something, anything that went over both of my shoulders so there would be better weight distribution, especially as the date for the five mile Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk neared.

We found our glass slipper of a baby carrier when the 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap arrived at our house after I agreed to review the brand-new wrap founded by California babywearing mama Michelle Schlensker.

I must admit that normally I'm not a fan of stretchy wraps. I've tried a few different brands, and I've never found one that was actually supportive enough for my liking because I have heavy, fast-gaining babies. Many unsuccessful and uncomfortable stretchy wrap carrying attempts with my first son led me to unlovingingly nickname them saggy wraps. However, after heavily relying on the Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap almost to the point of wrap abuse, I'm now eating my words and publicly apologizing for labeling all stretchy wraps as unsupportive and uncooperative.

The Anboo, as we affectionately nicknamed the wrap in our house, is everything I want in a stretchy wrap. It is breathable, supportive, sustainable, organic, superbly soft and certainly capable of being a work-horse carrier.

And we've worn the living daylights out of this thing during the past two weeks it's been in our home. We used it during the five-mile-long Strides Walk. I've walked in high-heels along forest preserve trails while wearing EJ in it. We have worn EJ in it at myriad events throughout Lake County. It's also seen the inside of our Curves and helped me snuggle EJ while getting work done at the club. I don't think we've gone one day where it hasn't been used.

I've speculated that EJ likes the wrap for the same reasons I like it so much. It is softer than even my most worn cotton T-shirts with an almost-silky feel. Because it is made of bamboo and cotton, it is supportive while maintaining high breathability. Rarely, do you get the kind of support and breathability the Anaju gives in one wrap. The Hoppediz "Das Leicht" is the only other wrap I've tried that succeeds in offering both support and maximum air circulation; however, the Anaju is second to none in its super-soft and silky feel. I imagine the Anaju being one wrap that mamas in warm climates don't mind sporting; though, I cannot say I've had a chance to test it in the heat because the Chicago area has had a tundra-esque October, and I don't think we've seen a day with temperatures beyond 66 degrees.

I appreciate that the wrap is made of organic bamboo viscose and organic cotton because I don't have to worry about toxins when EJ sucks on the edges as most babies do. (It passed Oeko-Tex 100 certification, which is Europe's safety testing system for fabrics.) Speaking of spit and drool marks, the Anaju is even more appealing because after it is washed and dried it bounces back to its original shape if any stretching has occurred. Schlensker explains on her site that bamboo has a wonderful memory, and therefore, superbly maintains its shape after being laundered. That means you don't have to be afraid to wear your baby in the Anaju right after a feeding because if spit happens, and it will happen, the wrap is easily cleaned in the washing machine.

The Anaju, like all stretchy wraps, does have limits, though. Stretchy wraps cannot safely support back carries, in my opinion; the founder of the wrap agrees, as she specifically pointed this out in the wrap's user hand guide. The Anaju is recommended for use with babies one year and younger. I would say it certainly feels like the bamboo/cotton combination is stronger than other stretchy wrap fabric blends out there. I don't feel too many pressure points while wearing the wrap unless I'm wearing for more than a few hours; it's hard to avoid pressure points with a stretchy wrap, though, so I am impressed with how little I have felt after wearing it for hours at a time every day.

Currently, the Anaju is available in Jade Lime, which has worked out well for us because we're big green fans in our house. Mamas who want specific colors will have to wait until Schlensker introduces the other colors in the line.

It's also important to note that because the wrap material is so lightweight and stretchy, the Anaju must be tied onto the carrier tighter than other stretchy wraps. It should feel like a snug T-shirt before you slip baby in, and it should grip baby pretty snugly in order to give maximum support. Equally important, new babywearers often adore stretchy wraps because they are pretty darn easy to learn how to tie and secure baby into a good position.

So enough from me about the Anaju. Want to love on one yourself or know someone who would really enjoy it? Here's how you can win your own 3Tree Design Anaju Bamboo Baby Wrap:

1. Leave a comment sharing why you or someone you'd love to gift the Anaju to would so enjoy having the it. Be sure to mention the specific quality about the wrap that you like most if you can narrow it down!

2. Tweet about this contest. (Post link in the comment section.)

3. Link to this contest on your Facebook status. (Post link in the comment section.)

4. Become a fan of 3Tree Design on Facebook. (Post link in the comment section.)

Be sure to comment every time you complete one of the above so you have many chances to win.

Giveaway entries will be accepted until midnight Oct. 31.

RAVE: Sun Oxygen Cleaner

We've had some staining issues since Gabe started solids mostly because Gabe believes that everything part of his body should share with his mouth in the joy of eating. Many a green bean has been smeared across his clean onesie or wiped onto his formerly white socks. Most of the clothing stains have come out with no problem in the wash. The diapers, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. Apparently solid-food-poop stains are harder to remove than predigested food stains. I was having the hardest time getting the unsightly blemishes from my beautiful fluff (remember, I really, really love our diapers. It's unnatural, I'm sure, but I don't care!).
I asked the ladies at the Green Mountain Diaper Yahoo Group for help, and one mama suggested an oxygen cleaner. Another cloth-diapering mama who also uses the stuff suggested we take a walk across the street to the Dollar General to pick up a bucket of Sun Oxygen Cleaner, and boy, am I glad we did!
My fluff looks beautiful!!! This stuff took the stains out of Gabe's diapers, and it only took one wash! It's a simple, inexpensive, bacteria-killing, brightening detergent (but it does not contain whitening enzymes, which is a big no-no for cloth diapers). It's also nice because it is powder form and doesn't have the additives used to keep liquid detergents in liquid form. And it's safe for cloth diapers!
Pointer: It's not necessary to use as much as the box suggests per load. You can easily get by cutting the amount in half! Happy laundering, mamas!