Saturday, July 17, 2010

Klean Kanteen Review


When Bubs was 18 months, all the talk in baby world was on BPA. How parents were giving their children harmful chemicals every time they handed them a bottle or sippy cup. Like every parent, I became concerned and researched for a better product.

I stumbled upon the Klean Kanteen. It seemed to overall get the best reviews. It was stainless steel, a plus as it did not leach chemicals into the liquid as the child was drinking. Although typically they come with a regular top, Advent made a top for Klean Kanteen that fit to the bottle and was a sippy cup. Since Bubs fine moter skills are delayed, and he had severe mouth sensory issues at the time, that was a definite plus. He could not drink out of a straw cup yet, so other stainless cups such as the safe sippy where out of the question.

We have not used the Klean Kanteen with Advent sippy attachment for over two years. I bought two, and we are still using those two. They have help up amazingly well. We use them daily and they get put up against the brunt of an active little boy. They have been dropped, tossed down the steps, thrown at walls, and besides the lettering wearing off, are no worse for wear and still look shiny and new.

The sippy attachment came with a cover, which was huge for us. Most sippy cups have open tops, especially the stainless ones, I hated the thought of the spout touching everything and they him drinking out of it, germs and all. The cover is large enough for little hands to take off and put back on again, which is another huge plus as any parent knows! The spout it also a hard plastic spout, thus when he would chew up the spout, it was never cut into or destroyed. As a matter of fact, we are still on our first set of spouts (although I have another set as back-up). There is an option of a soft spout, but since Bubs was chewing on all of his other sippy cups at the time and ruining the spouts, we opted for the hard top. He never had a problem transitioning.

Another big bonus was the fact that he can use these after he is done with the sippy. Buy a new attachment, such as the sport or loop top top from around $5 - $10 and you have a water bottle that a child can use for years.

The Klean Kanteen has four main downfalls I have learned about with ours. First, they leak. No matter what the company and other parents may say, they are a sippy and do leak like every other no leak sippy cup on the market. I wash the attachment by hand, and it has gotten very worn through the years. I plan on replacing them soon with the sports attachment. Secondly, all Bubs drinks is milk. Although faint, the cups have a milk smell to them I can not get rid of. No matter how much try, the smell is still there. This may be due to the fact that I do not like milk, so I am sensitive to the smell, because it seems I am the only one who is really bothered by it. This will not hinder me from buying more in the future, I will just make any new cups for juice or water only.

The third problem is although they are stainless, the do not keep beverages as cold as other insulated cups. As I mentioned before, Bubs will only drink milk, and thus I need a cup that keeps it cold. I solved that problem by buying a Built brand insulated cover for it. I love this cover because I can easily fold it down when he wants to take a drink. It also protects his hands from the temperature if the cup is very cold. It cleans up well when it gets dirty (and you know two and three year olds get everything dirty) and finally, it has a strap so I can easily hook it to my diaper bag and I am not constantly digging for a cup as he has a meltdown wanting a drink.

Finally, it is a rather large and heavy sippy cup, so I would recommend it for older babies, Cakes, who is just about to turn one still struggles to hold it up and drink out of it.

Overall, even with its downfalls, I think the Klean Kanteen is a great sippy cup. The durability alone is enough to encourage me to purchase more. Although the price may seem like a lot for a sippy cup, around $17.99, I can tell you it will last longer than plastic sippy cups, that cost around $5. It seems in this case, you do get what you pay for.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Super deal Saturday!

Do you know the many uses of Dr. Bronner's castle soaps? They can be used for anything, from bath and hand soap to cleaning the kitchen. They are three times stronger than most on the market, thus once diluted for use, they last forever. It is gentle enough to use on your baby and those floors they crawl on!

OK, enough free marketing for Bronner's, on to the deal...

www.Mothernature.com has all their Bronner's soaps on sale right now
Use code LSAVE15 (15% off) and code CRD-329118 (10% off)for an extra 25% off
Free shipping if you spend $49 before discounts
Go through ebates for a rebate of 7%

If you have ever wanted to try this, or need to stock up...this is the time!!!!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Fluffy Friday

Welcome to the first installment of fluffy Fridays...all about cloth diapers and accessories!!

Today is a great deal from babylegs...these are great for changing diapers, or when babies are learning to crawl and need some extra protection on their little knees. A bonus...they are a cute accessory to any outfit!

3 pairs of babylegs for $9. I ended up getting 6 pairs (one pack of each boys and girls) for $18...that is only $3 a pair, a HUGE savings from their normal retail value of $12!

So...how do you get this deal.

Go to www.babylegs.com
Click on the "Shop" tab
Click on the "Sale" tab

This should take you to this page

Scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see the 3 packs for $10

At checkout, use the coupon code BLNEWS for the extra 10% off!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

I'm back!!!!!!!!

So I was without a computer for a few months (which seems like an eternity) but on the flip side, I stayed so busy with school and projects I barely even knew I was without (well for the most part, I did call my mom on many occations asking her to look something up for me!

So for my first post, I will update that bucket list I posted a while back. Some projects were competed, for some, I was just so busy at the time with 2 moving children they got pushed back to next year!

Learn how to frost a cookie
Make 2 Valentines decorations
Make 2 St. Patricks Day decorations
Make 2 Springtime decorations (ok, so I did one, but it was cute and time consuming)
Plant a raised Vegetable Garden
Make 2 Easter decorations
Learn how to make a pie

Learn how to frost cupcakes
Make 2 Summertime decorations
Make 2 Fourth of July Decorations
Make 2 Fall decorations
Make 2 Halloween Decorations
Make 2 Thanksgiving decorations
Make 2 Christmas decorations
Finish front yard landscaping
Paint shutters
Make Cakes first birthday outfit (ok, I am cheating a little, I bought her shirt but I am making the rest)
Make Bub's fourth birthday shirt
Make a skirt
Make a dress
Learn how to ruffle fabric
Learn how to make a fabric flower
Make Cakes a bow holder
Set up a Family Planning Center
Make a ham
Build a closet in play room (ok, so I will need some help with this)
Paint the main bathroom
Paint Cakes room
Make and hang Bub's curtains and quilt

So overall I am doing well, some of the holiday's have not come up, and I seem to have really only missed one project. The veggie garden has been a pain to keep the dogs out of, and apperently they like zuchini plants, as I am missing 2, that and peppers, they ate my actual peppers off the plant.

I am also working on a Mei Tei and a new wrap for Cakes..the Mei Tei will be cutting and sewing but I am going to actually dye the wrap...that should be fun. maybe.

My last outside project is to find 3 bushes for the backyard to keep the dogs back from the fence, but 2 shepherds hooks for my hanging baskets and finish spray painting the pots that my mother donated to me. These pots are circa 1990 and so not my style, but a little primer, spray paint and gloss and they should be perfect.

Cakes bow holder is almost ready. One more coat of pink, a coat of gloss and ribbons tied on and I should be done!

I am also trying to come up with a good schedule for the kids now that I am home all summer...That is my big project for today, scheduling time for us and then a little time for me to work on all the projects that seem to be building up.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

I love the romantic look that seems to be everywhere...Rosebud Lips has some fantastic items at her etsy store...super super super cute! Plus, she has such a variety, I wish I had found her stuff before I got married, the garters and bridesmaid items are to die for!

Jessica at Happy Together is having a great giveaway to win a Sophia Rosebud Brooch! Check it out!!!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

My bucket list for 2010

So I have decided to make myself a "bucket list" for this year. Different projects I would like to do and tasks I would like to accomplish. Things that are just for "me". As a mom of 2 young children, I too often find myself worrying about everyone else and not taking time for myself. This is a way to pull all aspects together, and allow me to practice and develop my cooking, decorating and sewing skills.

  1. Learn how to frost a cookie
  2. Make 2 Valentines decorations
  3. Make 2 St. Patricks Day decorations
  4. Make 2 Springtime decorations
  5. Plant a raised Vegetable Garden
  6. Make 2 Easter decorations
  7. Learn how to make a pie
  8. Learn how to frost cupcakes
  9. Make 2 Summertime decorations
  10. Make 2 Fourth of July Decorations
  11. Make 2 Fall decorations
  12. Make 2 Halloween Decorations
  13. Make 2 Thanksgiving decorations
  14. Make 2 Christmas decorations
  15. Finish front yard landscaping
  16. Paint shutters
  17. Make Cakes first birthday outfit
  18. Make Bub's fourth birthday shirt
  19. Make a skirt
  20. Make a dress
  21. Learn how to ruffle fabric
  22. Learn how to make a fabric flower
  23. Make Cakes a bow holder
  24. Set up a Family Planning Center
  25. Make a ham
  26. Build a closet in play room (ok, so I will need some help with this)
  27. Paint the main bathroom
  28. Paint Cakes room
  29. Make and hang Bub's curtains and quilt

So, 29 may seem like a wierd number, but being that I will be 29 this year, I find it to be perfect.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Manic Monday continued

Another great giveaway. Tatertots and Jello (I love her name) is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Mason Grace Designs. Her items are one of a kind for sure, I LOVE the I choose Happiness piece!