Share the Love: Don't Forget Date Night! (#giveaway for @ShorelineSights cruise tickets)

Before we left the country for a month at the end of May to bring home our daughters via international adoption, we made about two dozen lists of things to do and bring and pack.

One of the things that made the "must do" list before leaving the country was a date night. A real date, at that. Not one of those dates in disguise we sometimes like to do out of shear convenience, ease and desperation. (Going on a Target date always seems like a good date idea ... until you get there and realize it's just a glorified grocery shopping trip with less whining, less cart tipping and more time spent in store resulting in a larger haul of stuff that's alot less grocery and a lot more questionable because that's what happens when you don't have to get in and get out, people!)

So anyway, we realized we really needed a real bonafide date that included adult conversation, perhaps mental stimulation and also maybe leisurely enjoyment of food, drink and maybe the great outdoors, if we were going to get fancy about it.

When Shoreline Sightseeing invited us to take an Architecture Tour on the Chicago River, I sorta hesitated a bit to do this for date night. We'd previously been on a different company's architecture tour along the river, and it was, um, kinda boring for me. Hubby on the other hand had mostly enjoyed it because he really really likes history and information. (When we first met in Egypt, he wanted to spend some time at the Cairo Museum and after FOUR hours spent looking around was shocked when I told him I was ready to leave because look.at.all.the.history!)

So I'll be honest: the only reason I'd agreed to make this into a date night is because I really, really, really love my husband ... and we had two extra tickets, and I figured I could talk with my girlfriend during the tour while he geeked out and feasted on information.

But we didn't even have the chance to occupy ourselves! From the moment the cruise started, we definitely were engaged by the crew and our tour guide. Our tour guide Ben was born, I think, to give architecture tours. As if memorizing information and then making the history of architecture interesting isn't a great enough task, our guide did it with humor, a bit of sarcasm and poise. You guys, I literally laughed out loud several times. He made such a huge difference in our experience. I also learned things. Yup, that's right -- I learned that Art Deco is my absolute most favorite of building styles in the city.

And we got some fantastic views of the city at sunset. So that's a win, too. My compliments to the captain for pausing for a good long while to enjoy it. We'll definitely do it again if the opportunity affords itself to us!

Wanna go on a date-night cruise, too? Shoreline Sightseeing has kindly offered one reader four tickets to be used this season. Simply enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. No funky logins required. Easy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share the Love: Honey Balsamic Harvest Steak Salad {$50 Whole Foods Giveaway}

One of my joys in life is creating meals that my family and our friends delight in when they eat it.

But it doesn't come easy in this house ... at least with the kids it doesn't.

I don't know about your kids, but mine consider things like macaroni and cheese {which has its place in life} the king of all feasts.

And sometimes -- like when I made super delicious apple-cider braised purple cabbage and apple-chicken sausage for dinner -- I hear their protest cries. Loudly.

We parents have a lot going against us when the rest of the free world seems to taut chocolate cookies as the touchdown of all snacks and schools serve low-fat but high-sugar chocolate milk with snacks and lunches.

Now I'm not anti-treat or anti-mac and cheese or anti-chocolate milk, but, darn it, those things sure give vegetables a run for their money when it comes to choosing.

This is why I so appreciate the initiatives made by the Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit committed to improving childhood nutrition by increasing the availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables, both at schools and at home.

The foundation just kicked off its annual fundraiser to support school salad bar and garden grant programs and nutrition education classes for teachers, and in doing so, Whole Foods Deerfield has asked me to help spread the word about the importance of including a hearty heaping of veggies into our families' diets by creating a salad recipe the whole family will enjoy.

Well. Twist my arm.

So John and I set out to make a salad that our whole family, a friend and a friend's whole family would enjoy -- which translates to one baby, four kids and five adults, three of which are gluten-free and one who is dairy-free.

We decided to make two main dishes: a Honey Balsamic Harvest Steak Salad and Mini Tomato Salads {aimed at appealing to the minis}.

Honey Balsamic Harvest Steak Salad Recipe:
{fed five adults and four kids with leftovers}

Steak Marinade:
-Your choice of steak -- we used 1.2 pounds of flank steak
- 6 T of gluten-free soy sauce
- 2 T brown sugar
- 1/2 t dry mustard
- 1/2 t of ginger
- 1/2 t of onion powder

Let steak marinate over night.

Salad Ingredients:
- 1 Green Pepper
- 1 Avocado
- your favorite harvest tomatoes
- 1 pound of cremini mushrooms
- a heaping handful of pecans
- a container of sheep's milk {or cow's milk} feta
- two heads of romaine lettuce {you'll likely use 1.5}

Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1/8 of honey

Stir ingredients to blend well.

Grill the steak. While the steak is grilling, sauté mushrooms in butter or coconut oil and add a tablespoon of balsamic to the pan. Chop all of the veggies. Toss veggies, mushrooms, steak, lettuce and dressing together. Top with pecans and feta.

Mini Tomato Salads Recipe 

Ingredients
- about 25 cherry tomatoes
- one to two balls of fresh mozzarella
- handful of basil leaves
- toothpicks

Slice cherry tomatoes in half. Slice mozzarella into bit sizes. Place tomato, basil leaf and mozzarella chunk on each toothpick. Serve with balsamic vinegar and olive oil blend.

Here's how it panned out: 

-The adults raved about both salads.

-Three kiddos gave the Honey Balsamic Harvest Steak Salad a thumbs up. My oldest said, "Well, I'm shocked. This is actually good." {Thanks, kid.}

-One kiddo thought the Mini Tomato Salad was awesome, but they all tried it. Quote: "Wow. I really like those."

So want to make your own salad creation or recreate one of these salads? Whole Foods Market Deerfield is giving away a $50 gift certificate for Whole Foods Market!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Whole Foods Market Deerfield provided me with a $50 gift card to make these salad creations. 

Share the Love: It's Hotter In Chicago {Even in November}

If there was as shoe love-bliss, I'd be swirling around in it.

I've said it before, and I'll stand firm in my comfy, chic Hotters as I say it again: hands down {feet happily planted?}, Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes shoes are by far my favorite duds to sport. 

Love at first wear: Winter Taupe Jade Boots

 Be it at a big conference in downtown Chicago where I'm on my feet all day but still want to rock a look or whether I'm chasing my boys through the park or parading them around town while running errands, I almost always first grab for a pair of my Hotters simply because they really are as comfortable as they are stylish.

This past weekend, I sported a leather pair of Winter Taupe Jade ankle boots to Bloggy Boot Camp Chicago, and only had to put me feet up twice the whole day.

and that was simply to snap a few pictures of these comfortable and stylish ladies!

Do you want a pair?

Hotter is graciously giving away a pair of YOUR CHOICE of shoes or boots! Simply enter below to have your name thrown into the giveaway. 

And check back tomorrow for a special discount code if you'd like to just take my word for it and order yourself a pair of shoes or boots that are not only Hotter in terms of comfort and style but also when it comes to quality and longevity -- as I'm on my third year of wearing my first-ever pair of heavily-worn Hotter boots. 

These lovely comfys are worth every single penny. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No purchase necessary to enter, subject to availability of stock. I received a pair of Hotter Seville’s to assist in this review, no other compensation was received and opinions expressed are all my own. This is the same entry form as that at Peanut Butter in My Hair and Redhead Reverie. See Redhead Reverie for a full review of her Hotter shoes. 

Past Hotter Reviews/Giveaways at Undercover Mother:

Pixie Boots

Bliss Shoes

Share the Love: Bulldozing a Path to Clean-Up Time Peace

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. RANDOM.ORG CHOSE JANELLE AS THE WINNER**

I dread the beans.

All one million and one of them, with the tiny red bodies, some speckled with white.

We keep said beans around because I love the hours of imaginative play that unfolds whenever I pull the container from the highest closet shelves, giving my little boys free reign to plow their cars through bean-barded highways and the green light to sink their army men into the tall mounds they've piled on the floor.

But I dread the aftermath of the beans because convincing two young boys, ages 2.5 and 4.5, to clean them up is like herding cats; I end up finding piles of beans everywhere for days and weeks and sometimes months or picking them all up myself.

Apparently, such is life with growing boys; as my little ones have grown older, taller, bigger, it seems that the toys they deem interesting and captivating keep dwindling in size.

The beans are just one of many sets of toys that contain pieces smaller than my pinky nail. {Play Mobiles, anyone?}

While those small toys are loads of fun, they are painstaking to pick up after they've been spread across the play space of the living room.

Ironically, the very afternoon I received an request to review the Toydozer, a tool that aids in picking up such small pieces, I had actually spent a good chunk of time on my hands and knees wishing for such an item while picking up piece by piece all the beans scattered around the kitchen floor.

After that serendipitous moment, I immediately agreed to give the Toydozer a few test runs during clean-up time and share our findings:


Awesomeness:

* My oldest son happily uses the Toydozer as a "garbage truck" while he's scooping up all the pieces of his lincoln logs, beans or Duplo pieces instead of arguing with me for 20 minutes about cleaning up his toys.

* It's simple design allows my toddler to effectively "play" with it before and during clean up.



* I easily gather all remaining pieces they've missed in about 60 seconds flat instead of individually picking up all of the pieces

* There are color choices, which we find an essential part of toy selection, and this is NOT just a tool; it is a toy! {Please don't tell my kids this is a clean-up tool or it will lose some of its appeal!}

* It's sturdy and stands up to abuse at the hands of bull-dozing boys.

*It's not just meant for clean-up time; it's used during active imaginative play, too.

* Coupon code! Use BLOGGER20 with your readers for 20 percent off at Toydozer.com 

Deterrents:

* Because of its simple design, the $18.99 price tag might cause parents to reconsider the purchase. However, anyone who has picked up thousands of beans on her floor for 20-odd minutes four times during the span of a day would likely consider it a good investment.

Want one of your own?
Toydozer offered to give away one dozer! Simply leave a comment sharing which of your little ones' toys most necessitate the use of the a Toydozer.

If you'd like extra entries, you can like Toydozer on Facebook and follow Toydozer on Twitter. Please leave a comment for each to earn the extra entries.

This post is part of a Toydozer blogger outreach campaign. Participating bloggers have been provided with a complimentaryToydozer to review and have been compensated for their time. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents 18 and older. A winner will be randomly selected Friday, April 20, 2012. All opinions expressed are my own.

Share the Love: It's about to get Hot{ter} this Spring

Now that mother nature has been busy redecorating the trees with lovely bursts of color and the prevailing winds have shifted toward sweeping in milder temperatures, I decided it was time to pack away the thick, cozy winter boots, coats and hats and do some redecorating of my own with a new spring wardrobe.

Because it's been such a tough winter for our family, I have been more than ready to welcome a new season filled with warmth and pretty colors both outside our front door and inside my closet.

Normally, I don't give myself permission to welcome a new season with a new wardrobe, but John and I decided it was necessary for me to buy new clothes if I want to go out into public, you know, clothed. Having lost around 25 pounds during this the past year, most of my old clothes now hang on my frame.

So we went shopping, and to say I had fun picking out new threads is an understatement. While I was super excited to offer a new home to these new clothes, I realized also that during my weight loss my feet scaled down a size, so new shoes were in order, too.

Oh, darn. I'd said to John, trying to disguise a sly smile. I guess new shoes are in order, too.


After having fallen in love last fall with a pair of soft gray Pixie boots from Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes, I headed straight to the Hotter site and began drooling over the spring line of shoes, searching for a pair that would easily carry me from an afternoon spent at the park straight into date night with just the quick change of a shirt and jewelry.

Because I know from experience that Hotter shoes are extremely comfortable, I browsed all different styles, not shying away from heels. {I broke up with hellish-on-the-feet shoes last fall after discovering Hotter and finding shoes could be stylish and comfortable.} But once I spotted Damson Bliss Shoe, I knew I'd found a chic shoe that could easily transition from day-time to night-time wear.






When the Bliss shoes arrived, I immediately tried the pair on and found that my hunch was right; these lovely ladies could rock both the daytime t-shirts and the evening-wear knit sweaters in my spring wardrobe all while putting a little spring in my step.





Overall, I love my Hotter Bliss shoes; they definitely live up to both names. The quality is superb, and I love the intricate detail of the embroidered flower on the straps.

I do have to mention, though, that because these lovely ladies are worn without socks, I did spend an evening transitioning my feet into these warmer-weather shoes.

There were no killer blisters nor was there limping involved, but I had a tender spot by my heel and near my toes during that first jaunt out in the Bliss. After that initial wear, however, the Bliss have provided the comfort level I expect from Hotter shoes.

Do you need hotter shoes than what you're currently sporting for your spring wardrobe?

Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes has graciously has offered to give away one pair of shoes to one of my friends here AND to one person who matches a pair of Hotter shoes to our favorite spring outfits posted daily on the Hotter Facebook page this week! {How awesome is that?!} 


CHECK OUT TODAY'S OUTFIT AND MATCH A PAIR OF HOTTER SHOES by simply placing a link with your shoe choice beneath the outfit on their facebook page!

 And to be entered into the contest here, simply click on the Rafflecopter entry form below! a Rafflecopter giveaway 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 for new customers and free p&p on the first order valid through April 23, 2012: PFAUSB



Disclosure: I only work with brands I absolutely love and respect; it's a pleasure to review my second pair of high-quality Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes. Hotter provided me with the Bliss shoes for review. As always, all opinions are my own, and I only share products that we actually use in our own home.

Share the Love: Blue Sky 2012 Planner Giveaway

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED. Congratulations to Kristina, who Random.org deemed the winner.*

Last week, I sat down in the living room to begin penciling in commitments and deadlines for the month of December {because I don't care what anyone says: paper planners are the best organizing tool ever}, but then immediately was beckoned into the kitchen to aid in a water-pouring endeavor gone wrong.

While I was gone, little E Van Worth went all Starry Night on the month of November.

My "newly designed" current Blue Sky Planner

 And that made me a little more eager to welcome in December with all of its events and lists and to-dos even if only simply to get a clean page on which to write. {Also, beauty. December is a beautiful month! Also, how is it already December?}

Sometimes it just feels good to make a clean start. Most of us welcome the freshness the New Year brings, but I feel that way about months and weeks and sometimes even days, too.

How about you? Want to turn the page and open to the blank slate of a brand-new year this January 1?

The generous people at Blue Sky have offered to give away an organization set, which includes a super-functional and easy-to-use day planner in the beautiful, sleek Egg Press design that I'm really digging.

Simply leave a comment with your email address included and share with me your favorite way to ring in the New Year. And, no, you are not required to say "with a new planner!"


The winner will be randomly chosen by random.org Tuesday, December 6, 2011. 


Winner must be 18 years or older and live in the United States. I was not monetarily compensated to host this giveaway. Blue Sky sent me several day planners and calendars to check out and use in 2012. All opinions expressed are my own; as always I only share products I use in my own home from companies I respect. Plus, I thought one of my friends might like to receive a complimentary planner set for the new year! 

Share the Love: The Unhealthy Truth

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. The winner chosen by random.org is Michelle.**

We're not eating the same food that graced our grandparents' plates.

Heck, we Americans aren't even eating the same food as our European and Asian counterparts.

Surprised?

Take macaroni and cheese for example. Kraft actually sells a cleaner, healthier {if mac and cheese could be considered healthy} version of macaroni and cheese without the added food dyes and made with whole food ingredients other countries that have deemed dyes and artificial growth hormones and genetically engineered crops too risky for human consumption; after all, no human studies have been conducted on the safety of such practices or consumption.

Just compare the list of ingredients*:
U.S. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

Enriched Macaroni Product (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate [Iron], Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Cheese Sauce Mix (Whey, Modified Food Starch, Whey Protein Concentrate, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Contains Less Than 2% of Parmesan Cheese [Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Dried Buttermilk, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Blue Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Sodium Phosphate, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Cream, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Enzymes, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) 

U.K. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni (Durum Wheat Semolina), Cheese (10%), Whey Powder (from milk), Lactose, Salt, Emulsifying Salts (E339, E341), Colours (Paprika Extract, Beta-Carotene) 

I was first introduced to this little tidbit of information during a luncheon with Robyn O'Brien, sponsored by Stonyfield.

While I wasn't shocked, the facts fueled the fires in my heart to continue to talk about what we are feeding our bodies, working together with people like Robyn to educate and motivate. Robyn herself is an advocate for food safety having penned the book The Unhealthy Truth, which details her experiences and findings about the relationships between food allergies and illness in relationship to the way the U.S. allows its food to be grown, raised, handled, enriched and genetically modified.

Robyn shared with a group of Chicago bloggers how she was initiated into her food advocacy role by fire when her youngest suffered a violent allergic reaction to eggs, spurring her to create the Allergy Kids Foundation as a resource and education group to increase awareness about what we are consuming.

The whole foods advocate in me mostly believes that if we simply moved away from consuming processed foods like macaroni and cheese, we would have much less with which to be concerned.

But that's not entirely true anymore -- because we're not eating the tomatoes or beef or yogurt that our grandparents ate when we purchase many of these conventionally grown, raised and formulated foods. 

Take for example the little cups of yogurt we buy in the store and deem healthy because, gosh, it IS yogurt after all. Once I discovered all of the artificial ingredients in the low-calorie-but-yummy yogurts I'd been consuming and taking note of the brands whose farmers have not pledged to treat their dairy cows with growth hormones or been certified organic by the USDA, I realized that I needed to look more closely at ingredient lists used to produce the foods my family was consuming.

We've now switched to brands like Stonyfield and Nature's Path, two companies that are committed to partnering with farmers who farm the way our great-great grandparents and all of the generations before farmed -- and who are committed to using only real food ingredients that have not been genetically modified or chemically altered in their foods.

I know what some are thinking. There's too much ground to cover, too many battles to be fought considering how far many of our farmers have ventured into conventional practices like using pesticides and GMO seeds and companies that have taken to using artificial ingredients.

But we all have a voice.

As Robyn said at the lunch -- she was just a mom of four who was serving her kids frozen waffles for breakfast before she started digging into the facts. She didn't want to know about our food supply and she was totally happy with what her family consumed. But when health was compromised for one of the little people she loved most, she was spurred to action, to knowledge, to advocacy.

Many of us don't have a health crisis to spur us to action. There is power, though, in being proactive with our health!

And can I just say -- our votes count. 


We women have the power to band together and change what companies put on the grocery store shelves.

Every time we spend a dollar on food, we vote. 


Every time we make one small change toward the better in our grocery purchases, we vote. 


Companies are getting the message. Let's keep soaking up information, making better decisions in doing so, continue sending the message loud and clear.


After all, we have little lives that are counting on us to send it.

***Giveaway***

Stonyfield has generously offered to give away a copy of Robyn O'Brien's book The Unhealthy Truth. Also included: a Stonyfield canvas bag, the Stonyfield Yogurt Cookbook, Stonyfield coupons and a few other goodies. 
Simply leave a comment sharing what small change her family could make in grocery purchases so as to promote overall wellness.  {Or you can say a change you've already made toward healthier eating!}
For an extra entry {and to help spread the word about food integrity in our country while motivating other parents to get involved}, tweet:
"The food we eat should be REAL food! I'm taking a stand for food integrity w/ @Stonyfield @TheUnhealthyTruth @HyacynthW http://bit.ly/opaCPM"

*special thanks to Robyn O'Brien for listing out these ingredients as published on Healthy Child.
Full disclosure: I was not compensated for this post or asked by Stonyfield to write about my lunch experience. Simply, I am passionate about helping further education about our food while advocating for how we can all live the healthiest lives possible. No purchase necessary to win. Winner must be 18 years or older and live within the United States. A winner will be randomly selected October 10, 2011.


This post is linked with The Green Resource at Sorta Crunchy, A Delightful Home, The Greenbacks Gal and Live Renewed.

Share the Love: Organization Set Giveaway from Blue Sky

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHELLE FROM INTENTIONAL ME!**
Intentional living is complicated by busyness.

The busyness, I've found, robs me of our everyday moments.

With my always-running mind and a full list of commitments, I've found that I can no longer rely only on memory to keep our family moving in the right directions at the right times on the right days and soak up the moments as they happen.

After this realization, I decided to make a concerted effort to give my mind a breather; I've taken the better part of this summer to try and imbed some organization into our lives so that come fall, when our activities become much more structured and scheduled, I will be able to enjoy our actual down time and the moments that accompany without becoming consumed by other thoughts of other committments I may or may not be forgetting.

My first attempt at organization began with a monthly calendar for our kitchen. I actually caved last fall and bought a Blue Sky hanging wall calendar {partly because it was pretty} after I asked my husband for the fourth day in a row if it was Thursday. {And I was totally serious.}

And that has helped; but I admittedly need a level of organization that goes beyond simply knowing the day of the week -- that's where my Blue Sky Day planner is helping.

With a monthly calendar at located at the beginning of each month's tab followed by actual day spaces alloted for detailed plans, I've become more successful at keeping my days straight and not overbooking our weeks ...

when I remember to use it.

{Why, yes, I am keeping it real here.} :)

I haven't used a daily planner since my senior year of college, partly because I rarely have the time it takes to pencil in all of the activities at each moment each activity is scheduled {hands full with chasing kids} and partly because I have to remember to bring said planner places.

{I'm lucky to remember shoes for E.}

Also, effectively using a planner takes diligence for me -- it really requires discipline.

As I've been disciplining myself, I've come to really like the way my planner is structured. All of my lists -- who to call, what to do, what to buy -- are in one place. All of my plans are in one place. One very pretty place.



I do not have a purse overflowing with sticky notes any more. I'm not desperately trying to recall what I think I may have forgotten {mostly}. And my iPhone isn't tethered to my hand at every moment of the day.

I like that.

So, I guess there's a reason why these planner thingys are popular. They actually work.

Probably, if you're like me and you live in the real world, you're also looking for some organizational help this fall.

Maybe a Blue Sky organization set might help control the chaos of the school year and help foster more moments of intentional living?

Simply leave a comment telling me your best organization tip {or what color your toenails are painted -- really any comment is fine}.

*I'll randomly select a winner Tuesday, August 2
*The Blue Sky organization kit includes one 8x10 planner, magnetic grocery checklist pad, mouse pad, and door notes
*Be sure to include your email address; I had to redraw the winner three times last giveaway.
*For an additionaly entry, you can like Blue Sky on Facebook. {Leave a comment saying you did.}

Blue Sky gifted me with an organizational set and offered to give away a set, too. While this is a sponsored post, my opinions and thoughts are my own. As mentioned, I'd already been using Blue Sky items in my daily life, so I thought my friends here might find them useful, too.

Share the Love: $50 Giveaway from The Willow Store and Sprout Change Training Pants Review

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
**Lauren was PICKED BY RANDOM.ORG as the WINNER in the THIRD redraw! She has 24 hours to respond to my notifcation.**

Bedtime shouldn't be a battle -- especially a battle about underwear.

Alas, every night before bedtime, we have the same spirited conversation.

"I'm big," says almost 4-year-old G. "I don't WANT to wear a diaper to bed."

As I list all of the reasons why his cloth pull ups are not actually diapers, my oldest son eyes up the cloth diaper John is securing to his younger brother's rear.

And my argument is null and void right there. Most parents who are helping preschoolers learn to master the potty have fought this fight, be it at night or during the day, so I know you hear me on this one.

Reluctantly, G puts on his bulky, pocket-style pull up, often with tears, and climbs into bed unhappily almost nightly.

It's sort of heartbreaking; he wants to wear underwear to sleep but he's just not there yet because he's such a sound sleeper. {This is frustrating for a kid who learned to use the potty during the day before he was two.}

A few weeks ago, The Willow Store, a lovely mama-made-and-run company in Wisconsin, asked if I'd be interested in reviewing a new cloth pullup. I couldn't say yes quickly enough.

I've been on the hunt for a washable training pant pull up that isn't pocket-style and that doesn't look like a diaper or feel bulky for about two years now. And mostly all I've found is bulky, pocket-style pullups that get the job done but are exactly like the ones G so adamantly protests nightly.

Catherine, the owner asked which color Sprout Change Training Pants G would like, and she sent him his first choice, which was a super way to start off the review.



Because unlike with cloth diapers meant for babes who have no vocal opinion on said diapers, training pants must be approved not only by mom and dad, but also by very opinionated preschoolers.

And, you know, when parents are working with their little ones on potty learning -- be it at night or during the day -- allowing preschoolers or older toddlers to have a say in picking some of their potty-learning gear actually works for potty-learning endeavors. {Especially in my case with a kiddo who desperately wants to outgrow his training-pant days.}

So, yes, the large array of color choices was a huge bonus, mostly because it gave G at least a bit of say in what he was going to wear. And whatever offers him a little relief from the frustration of having to wear training pants to sleep, helps me sleep better.

The very day his special blue Sprout Change Training Pants arrived in the mail, he was eager to wear it that night instead of the other ones.

So eager that he wouldn't take no for an answer when I told him I had to wash it several more times before it would be ready for wear, as our chosen Sprout Change inners are made of organic cotton that needs to be washed several times before it reaches maximum absorbency. {There is also a stay-dry inner option.}

Against my better judgement, he wore it to sleep, and he leaked through the side -- my own fault of course for not standing my ground and washing it the directed two more times before use.

The next day, I washed the Sprout Change Training Pant two more times, and had it ready to go when he requested his blue "night underwear."

That night, I also added a regular Spout Change Organic Cotton Insert to the pullup so as to ensure adequate absorbency for a preschooler.

He happily pulled the Sprout Change on and went to sleep.


And he happily woke in the morning without any leaks.

Every night, G asks for his special Sprout Change underwear -- I honestly cannot wash the thing fast enough for his liking, so I foresee a few more Sprout Change Training Pants arriving at our doorstep during the next week.

As you've likely figured, the Sprout Change Training Pant is in heavy rotation here as it's not only been well-received by the younger audience, but it's also been mom and dad approved:



Sprout Change Training Pants Quick Overview:
Shop: The Willow Store
Type: mom-owned, hand made, eco-friendly, natural and organic
Price: moderate to high
Quality: great
Customer Service: great
Durability: great {Worn every other night for the past two weeks}
Communication: great
Selection: great
Sizing: accommodates a large weight range and body structure

What makes Sprout Change Training Pant Unique:

*Unlike cloth pocket pullups that are bulky when stuffed with adequate inserts to accommodate a heavy wetter or preschooler, Sprout Change Pullups are very trim. Even when I added the extra insert into the pull up, there was minimal extra padding, and G's pajamas fit normally instead of tightly and awkwardly across the seat of the pants.

*Sprout Change Training Pants are adjustable in the thigh and in the waist, so it's actually possibly to get a really custom fit quickly and easily. There's no cloth to fold over or snaps to adjust when trying to get the right size for your little one. Rather, the elastic is adjusted from the inside.



Unsnap the button on the tabs of the pullup to access the elastic, and simply pull the elastic until it gently tightens around the thigh and the waist. When the desired tightness for both the thigh and the waist have been secured, slip the button through the elastic and tuck back into the side tabs of the training pant. Because the elastic and button adjustments are stored inside the shell, little hands are not able to readjust or fiddle with the adjustments.


*Sprout Change Training Pants function as daytime training pants in addition to night-time trainers, keeping accidents contained. Unlike many cloth pullups that are made of just cotton or fleece, which both wick and are easily soaked through, the Sprout Change Training Pant features organic cotton on the inside and water-proof PUL on the outside.

*The Sprout Change Training Pants allows preschoolers independence, as they can pull it on with out assistance, but also has easy-open side buttons so a messy accident can be easily changed.

One Quick Note:
*One of my biggest pet peeves about cloth diapers and pullups in general centers around quality elastic. The elastic in Spout Change Training Pants seem to be made of durable, quality elastic that likely will hold up in heavy rotation. However, we've only been using the Sprout Change Pullup for a few weeks, so I will be sure to update this review going forth if for some reason the durability drastically changes after more wear and tear.

Overall, I consider Sprout Change Training Pants to be the nicest cloth training pants we've tried. And, as I've said, we've tried many with decent results from my perspective, but never with such positive reviews from both the wearer and parent alike.



Would you like to win a $50 gift certificate to The Willow Store and buy a few Sprout Change Training Pants? Or maybe a few Sprout Change Diapers? Or maybe some other organic, eco-friendly mama or baby necessities like mama pads or forever towels or laundry nuts?

Simply leave a comment sharing what you would purchase from The Willow Store with your $50. Or tell me about why you'd like to try one of the aforementioned items.

For additional entries {LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH!}, you can:
*Like The Willow Store on Facebook

*Tweet: "I'm hoping to live green by winning a $50 #TheWillowStore GC for #clothdiapers or other #organic mama-must haves http://bit.ly/jO8PJH!"

*Share this giveaway on your Facebook page tagging both The Willow Store and Undercover Mother {note that you must "like" both pages to tag, but I have no other way of monitoring FB otherwise -- sorry! I try not to make people FB "like" me during giveaways!}

Cheers to healthy living, and good luck!!Entries close Wednesday, July 6 at 7 p.m.!

{Just a friendly reminder: Only family-friendly products I know my friends here will find beneficial and complimentary to living life healthfully are reviewed in this space. While the Willow Store is an wonderfully kind sponsor here, all of my opinions are my own. I was given the Sprout Change Training Pants for the review. To read more about my review policy, take a peek here.}

365 Photo Project: Weeks 30, 31 and 32 {and a giveaway!}

The WINNER of the Creativity Boot Camp spot is Suzannah from Shout Laugh Love!

True Random Number Generator

Min:1
Max:15
Result:
14
Powered by RANDOM.ORG


***GIVEAWAY CLOSED!***
Thirty two weeks ago, I didn't even know how to use my camera.


And while I still don't know everything about everything, I'm now at a place where even I am greatly pleased {and a little shocked} at how far I've come in such a relatively short amount of time.



But that's what {almost-daily} practice will do for me: diligence takes a spark of passion and slowly transforms it into flame.



And while I don't really have any desire to become a professional photographer because that's not my main gifting, I do enjoy capturing soul-deep shots of my boys, so I'm glad to have taken this journey.



I never would have begun the project, though, if it weren't for having just come off of Creativity Boot Camp, designed and hosted by the extremely creative and inspiration Maegan from Life Set to Words.



CBC inspired me to finally, finally call myself an artist.

And own it.



I chose to work in the medium of writing during last year's CBC, and I experienced tremendous growth as a creative writer, allowing escape from the ropes in which I'd bound myself.



The support of others on their creative journeys inspired, encouraged and pushed me to excel and go beyond my comfort zone in my writing last year.



I felt like I'd flourished, and I held onto the beauty of what I'd learned through this self expression, carrying it with me as I continued to grow as a writer during this past year.



When Maegan announced that she would again host another boot camp this May, I knew I wanted to dive back in again and swim deeper into my creative waters.



As a contributor to CBC, I've already invested a lot of heart into the course.



And I'll be adding more deposits come our start date.



I'm expecting to be stretched and challenged yet again this year. Because that's how Maegan rolls: she's again written and developed CBC to inspire artists and craftors and dreamers and creators to stretch, to recognize their strengths.



And own them.





Do you want to own your creativity? Your identity as an artist or creator or writer or photographer or painter?



Then you'll definitely want to leave me a comment here expressing what craft you'd like to develop.



Because Maegan has so graciously allowed each of the contributors to give away one COMPLIMENTARY spot in the 2011 Creativity Boot Camp.

And it's an online course -- so no travel required!

So? Which creative muscles do you want to flex? A winner will be randomly selected and announced Wednesday at 4 p.m. So you have until 3:59 CST Wednesday to enter.

Happy creating!

*Days 213, 214 and 215 were all taken the same day. I was fighting the hostile take over of my sinus cavity likely by the very subject captured in Day 215 two of the other days and didn't even think about picking up my camera. Just keeping it real. :)