Cloth Diaper Confessions!!

Today I am discussing one of my favorite topics, were talking CLOTH DIAPERS people!

So I usually get one of three reactions when people find out that I used cloth diapers on both of my boys:

• They think it's gross and old fashioned "Why would anyone do that when they don't have to anymore"?

OR

• That's awesome! "But I don't think I have the time for all of that".

I suspect there is a crowd of "in-betweeners" who just don't understand how cloth diapering is done nowadays. It's not as gross and outdated as it may seem, and it doesn't take much time at all. I'm pretty passionate about climate change and the effect that we leave on this planet. When I was pregnant with my first son, we made a conscious decision as a family to not only be mindful of the footprint we left, but also in the footprints started by our children. The choice to cloth diaper our children was more than just a parenting choice, it was a lifestyle choice. 
We agreed wholeheartedly that we wanted to model values of accountability. We strongly felt/feel there is a disconnect between people and what they use just as there is a strong disconnect between people and what they eat (we will save that conversation for another time). It was important to us as a family instead to teach our children to not only be "consumers", and to feel responsible for how much we use. For every action there is a reaction, we wanted to show them not only to be mindful of what you "take" but also to give back as much as you can. Within your life, your home, your community and local surroundings in order to be a part of the "solution" as opposed to just being a part of the "problem".




Time for some facts: Disposable diapers are the third largest consumer in landfills to date, and represent about 4% in solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of the household waste. I was disturbed to find out that diapers are dumped into landfills, covered and not exposed to sun or air at all, nobody knows how many hundreds—or even thousands—of years they could be around.

Without sun and air, even so-called “eco-friendly” diapers labeled biodegradable do NOT biodegrade in landfills, and cause just as much of a problem as regular diapers. It's estimated that every five minutes another 200,000 throw away will enter landfills in the United States alone where they will sit for at least 500 years before decomposing.

 That means long after you AND your children are long gone. That doesn't even include the wipes used!


This just breaks my NY heart! In 1991, an attempt towards recycling disposable diapers was made in the city of Seattle, involving 800 families, 30 day care centers, a hospital and a Seattle-based recycler for a period of one year. The conclusion made by Procter & Gamble was that recycling disposable diapers was not an economically feasible task on any scale.
You can check out more facts on the effects of disposable diapers on our environment here.

Now that we understand a bit about the effects disposables have in our landfills, lets talk health! It's no secret I go through great lengths to limit the amount of chemicals and toxins my family is exposed to. This is the reason I make all of my home cleaning products, laundry detergent, you name it! I'm either making it at home already or researching the recipe. Some of the chemicals listed as ingredients in disposable diapers are just downright scary, and to think were putting that on our baby's genitals!

Not So Fun Fact: Did you know that the instructions on any disposable diaper pack require that you dispose of any fecal matter (you know, poop!) in the toilet before disposing of the diaper itself? When you toss a disposable into the trash can, you are adding to the 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter going into the environment every year. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Public Health Association advise parents that fecal matter and urine should NOT be disposed of in the regular trash, because it contaminates the ground water and spreads disease. 

Have you ever seen what happens to a diaper in a pool when completely submerged it water? It explodes! A weird gel substance oozes from the back end. Some big name diaper companies have been under scrutiny over the past few years for some terrible rashes and in some cases even welts that were experienced in children who used their diapers. 

Now that we've covered the hazards and harmful effects of disposable diapers, let's get to the fun stuff..

Does it get any cuter than this???

Cloth diapering is not what it used to be, no more pinning and poking yourself nonstop. Lots of cloth diaper companies have gotten pretty fancy with snap and velcro enclosures and All-In-One inserts that make changing your baby simple and affordable! 

Not to mention the designs! They are absolutely adorable, crunchy AND cute! There are so many to choose from. I've decided to list the companies that we have had success with. I can only speak from personal experience and offer advice on where we were able to purchase these options online for the best price.

Fuzzibunz:
These were awesome, easy cloth diapers that were very easy to figure out and worked best for my boys during the daytime. Their cloth insert made quick changing possible. You just put the cloth insert in the pocket diaper when you are putting it on and remove the insert when you are changing and dispose into a diaper pail liner bag.

These specially designed bags are excellent for keeping tough smells inside until you prepare to wash a load, you can place them inside a makeshift diaper pail like I did or you can hang them on back of a door (I've only seen this online and is not my personal recommendation). Fuzzinbunz also sells an awesome travel wet bag for on-the-go changing.

This is also excellent for keeping odors locked into its zipper pocket compartment. The specially designed lining inside keeps the moisture and odor in, while staying dry on the outside. The nifty loop makes it ideal for latching onto strollers or diaper bags in case you didn't want to stuff a stinky diaper inside. You can take it to the next level like I did and even use the Fuzzibunz cloth wipes! These fleece wipes are so soft and smooth, they wipe up a lot more than the store bought disposables I've used in the past. Plus, your already washing cloth diapers just toss the wipe on in when your done!

I was fortunate enough to purchase a six pack of Fuzzibunz diapers online at Baby Steals for about $45, which helped to really give me a good base for my stash.

It's also great if you can find an online store that is local to cut down on shipping costs. If not, you can find a website with low shipping costs like the All Natural Baby Center or Kelly's Closet.

Bumgenius:
These  are wonderful highly absorbent one size fits all cloth diapers that grow with your child. They are easy to maneuver and even come with a weight limit for each setting to make it even simpler. Another pocket insert which allows for multiple inserts (doubling or tripling) making it perfect for over night wear. As my boys grew older and needed more nightly support I was able to use a Knickernappies organic hemp double insert that fit inside the Bumgenius pocket diaper. This assured me dried bottoms each morning!

Bumgenius also provides Flip diapers for a more on-the-go option. This insert diaper allows you to only change the insert  and keep the diaper shell on for quick access.
Perfect for park days or a stroll through the mall. The stay dry shell was great for preventing leaks, a much thinner insert with great absorbency.

Most of my Bumgenius products were purchased online at Cotton Babies. They have great sales where you can buy five diapers and get one for free. This is a great way to also add to your cloth diaper stash. Seeing as how babies need to be changed 8-10 times a day, its best to have at least 20 or so diapers on hand so your not washing daily.

Washing:
Ahh yes, the part that scares most people away from using cloth diapers... POOP!

Folks, there's nothing to fear here. With all of the updated cloth diapers on the market today, you simply empty the diaper over the toilet, remove the insert and put into your lined diaper pail. If you have enough diapers in your rotation you can wash every other day. When I needed to wash I would simply remove the lid on the diaper pail, grab the diaper bag and empty straight into my washing machine for a cold soak. There was a secret to my soak, I would add about a third of a cup of Bio`kleen Bac Out.

This all natural stain fighter contains live enzymes ensuring bright whites as well as a fresh scent. Once I felt they had soaked long enough (usually overnight), I would start a hot wash with my cloth diaper safe detergent, also by Bio`kleen.

This laundry detergent is cloth diaper safe (not all detergents are), I found that this worked best for me and I was able to purchase it locally in a pinch if I needed to. Most cloth diaper detergents like Rockin' Green are only available online which can be inconvenient. I've seen Charlie Banana detergent on sale at Walmart before but haven't had any experience with it.

I would also include a hefty scoop of Bio`kleen's Oxygen Bleach Plus for good measure.
I found that this was helpful when dealing with tough stains and any strong odors as the boys grew. Plus it made me feel better knowing there was some bleach action going on, even if it was all natural.

I would end with a cold rinse before drying the inserts, or a few hot rinses if I was stripping the diapers.

Stripping is the process of repeatedly rinsing the inserts in hot water. This is usually done when you first receive the diapers before your first use, or if you feel they have lost some of their absorbency due to build up. Some folks use dish detergent and bleach in their stripping, I always went the old fashioned route with vinegar and hot water.

Just like detergent, not all diaper creams are cloth diaper friendly. There are quite a few on the market, we've only tested three and had great success with all three:

• CJ's Butter
• Grandma El's
• Earth Mama Angel

All are available for purchase online at any of the sites mentioned above. 

If you are considering cloth diapering your baby and still are unsure of which brands to trust, there is a great trial program offered at Jillian's Drawers. This site is a great starting place if you are new to cloth diapering looking for information, and great if you are finished with cloth and looking for outlets to pass on some of your experience. 

Also, if you're very interested in cloth diapering your baby but just can't seem to find the time or energy to wash at home, you can consider a company like Mother Earth diaper service. Pick-ups and Drop-offs with ease, no muss no fuss!

At the end of the day cloth diapering is much like anything else, a personal experience. There is no one size fits all for every family. I hope that my experience can help anyone considering taking this rewarding journey. 

What's your cloth diapering experience been like?  I'd love to hear about it!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Threads On My Legs!

I carry my essential oils with me all the time. You never know when there may be a scraped knee, an upset tummy or even just a tantrum that I can help soothe with any one of my oils. For this reason I create on-the-go blends that I can just roll on when needed. This is much easier than breaking out three to four different oils that I may need to mix for a blend (such as the "Owie Blend" you can find here).

I usually use 5ml or 10ml roller bottles that can be purchased from AromaTools, and premix all of my go-to blends beforehand. This makes for much easier application in a hurry (mom code for a screaming toddler). They are very affordable and make life much easier, especially during nighttime routines with wiggly boys.

When I first saw roller bottle carriers from Threads On My Legs shop on Etsy I knew I had to have one( Etsy is great for any custom items or party ideas for all you crafty people)! I'd never seen a carrier devoted only to roller bottles, how clever! This roller blend carrier can hold up to 8-10 roller bottles. Plus the designs are adorable and extremely well made. I decided to take mine for a spin last week and I absolutely loved it. I like keeping my roller blends separate from my other traveling oils, it kept me much more organized (hey, it's the little things people).

There are plenty of adorable handmade custom bags you can check out in her shop. You can keep up with  Threads On My Legs on their Facebook page or on Instagram. Word on the street is the shop owner Angela, may be designing a new blend bag that can hold up to 18 roller top bottles! I can't wait to check that out!

In the meantime, Angela has been kind enough to provide 25% off for any of my readers who are interested in purchasing a bag from her online shop. Just enter coupon code ESSENTIAL25 at checkout for your discount!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I'm enjoying mine!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

What I'm Reading: "The Gifts of Imperfections" by Dr. Brene Brown

This month's pick is "The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Be Who You Are" by Dr. Brene Brown.

Brene Brown, Ph.D. is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. For the past decade she has studied vulnerability, courage, worthiness and shame. Quite possibly not the most popular of studies being researched, but all the more intriguing. Brene`lives n Houston with her husband Steve and their two children.

Brown's 2010 TEDx Talk on the power of vulnerability is brave and moving. It also just happens to be one of the most watched talks on TED.com with over 15 million views.

That, as well as her closing speech, Listening to Shame, at the 2012 TED conference in Long Beach, have catapulted Brown "Into the Arena".

Coincidentally, the premise for her third book (which I devoured in two days) "Daring Greatly". The title of the book comes from the Theodore Roosevelt speech "Man In The Arena".

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.  -Theodore Roosevelt

I'm getting ahead of myself here...

Brene` is the author of three books total to date:

• I Thought It Was Just Me
• The Gifts of Imperfections
• Daring Greatly

I skipped right over her first book and dived head on into "The Gifts of Imperfections" (call it a cosmic "Freudian" draw). It was just what #DrMom ordered for this recovering Type A perfectionist.

The first book is on my reading list for sure!

Her introduction to wholehearted living is an inspiring and authentic view at ourselves and how we perceive the world around us. Letting go of "social norms" and leaving room for self compassion in order to truly be able to feel compassion towards another, is only one of the many guideposts to truly "wholehearted living". Her approach to cultivating creativity and letting go of comparison is something we all can learn from, especially our children.

One of the main draws in this book for me was that these were all values I wanted to instill in my children, and yet I had to sort of "re-wire" my own thinking before I could authentically model this for them. It's one thing to talk the talk, but children are masters at seeing right through your words and picking up on ALL of your actions. Not just those opportune "teachable moments" where you are prepared with all the right answers and theories, but all the in between moments of each and every day. Sensing your fear and vulnerability, even at times you may be unwilling to share or admit it. This is the reason I feel as though you have the constant ability to deepen your relationship and bond with your children, for there is no more intimate relationship on this earth we can share as we do with them.

Brown's outlook on vulnerability and shame is empowering. The true courage it takes to open up and share freely with someone (only those who've earned the right to hear your story, including your children) your fears or inadequacies. The fact that you may just not know what to do or say at any given moment, but you are willing to be open and accepting to whatever comes your way is truly brave. Because the risk of looking "uncool" is much smaller than the risk of not giving it your all.

Brene` is quoted as saying: "Being cool is the emotional straight jacket". I see this everyday with children and sadly even adults. Especially among little girls and even "women". I suppose it's easy to be a part of the "Mean Girls Club", to be too cool for school. In reality these "tough girls" who can't express themselves emotionally or step up and be counted for what they feel or believe without attacking are afraid. More afraid of the vulnerability it takes to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you. Afraid to be seen or heard, for fear that they may not be loved because of it. Fear of rejection even. As a society, as women, we are constantly pressured to dress and look a certain way. To live up to an unattainable expectation, and if you don't then you my dear are an outcast. Rather than focus their energy on the outside by physically changing themselves in pursuit of fulfillment or acceptance, I'd rather focus that energy on the inside. Once you get the inside right, the rest will fall into place. There's more strength and courage in standing alone with integrity than there ever was in selling out in a crowd.

It's easy for someone to shut down and turn to mean, rude or provocative comments as a means of defense. It takes a lot of guts instead to choose compassion and live with an open heart. To embrace our vulnerability as humans, and value the connection that comes with it is perhaps the most courageous.

Dr. Brene Brown believes that as humans we are all hard-wired for connection, and all we want is to be seen and heard. By acknowledging our children's feelings, ALL of them, no matter how uncomfortable they may be, we give them the opportunity to be seen AND heard. To truly give unconditional love, we must embrace the ENTIRE human being with acceptance and love. Giving the gift of love and total compassion. Only once we can do this for ourselves, can we freely and genuinely give it to others.

If only we lived in a world where differences were celebrated, maybe everyone would be able to share the same unalienable human rights and get married where they please. Perhaps little girls would feel comfortable in their own skin no matter what that skin looked like, and could grow into women who uplifted each other instead of judging and comparing each other while exchanging catty remarks. Little boys could even express themselves without societal judgment on what colors they should be wearing, or what "manly" toys they should be playing with. Then they could grow up to be men who could confidently stay at home with their children, or enjoy tender moments without shame.

This book and more books like it are a part of a higher consciousness sweeping the nation. It's a process, but there is definitely a shift in vibrational energy, a shift in consciousness for the human race. It seems at times we've come a long way, but there is much more to go. Making the change starts with you. Making a change in your own mind and breaking generational patterns, passing that along to your children. One mind. One Person. One Family. One Neighborhood. One Community. One Nation. One World. One Race.

Essentially Yours,


Erika

Mother of All Baby Showers 2014!!!

It's official!

The Mother of All Baby Showers is coming to South Florida and this bloggin' mama is excited!

It will be my first time at this event, and I hear it is THE place to be!

This year's event is on Thursday, October 16th from 5:30pm - 9pm. As if it couldn't get any cooler, it's held at the Young At Art Museum in Davie, FL. If  you haven't been you must go! We are big fans of this children's museum.

I am excited to join some of my bloggin' friends for a great time and enjoy learning about all of the latest products, new vendors and awesome giveaways! Word on the street is they usually have the Mother of All Swag Bags as well!

Tickets are $15 for regular admission (the first 50 regular admission guests will also receive a swag bag), $25 for couple admission, $25 for VIP admission or $45 for VIP couple admission.  Click here to order tickets and use coupon code MOABS for $5 off admission. All proceeds go to the Young At Art Museum (Bonus)!

This adults only / daddy friendly event has all the makings of an awesome production. Chock full of celebrities, giveaways & great swag! Yours truly will be there with some of my fellow bloggers to cover it all. Have you ordered your tickets yet? Hurry!

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: No More Black & Deep Blues!

Bruises, who needs 'em?

Aside from their obvious discomfort, they can look a lot worse than they feel.

In this case however, it felt just as bad as it looked.

My poor husband had an unfortunate accident at work and his foot took the worst of the beating.

As soon as he returned home and took off his shoe, we elevated his foot and applied an ice pack for the swelling. Getting a closer look at it, I could tell it was going to need a bit more attention. My first thought was an X-ray for sure, which of course he protested.

So off to my trusty oil case I went!

I applied the Deep Blue oil first to relieve the pain and help limit the bruising. I then added some Helichrysum to help speed the healing.

I could tell by the swelling that the bruising was going to be pretty bad, so I reapplied frequently throughout the day.

The next morning I couldn't believe my eyes! I knew Deep Blue was supposed to limit bruising but this was incredible!

Unable to see all the areas that were effected initially I had only rubbed the Deep Blue on the site of the blow which was the center of the foot. The rest of the foot (mostly the toes and the side of the foot) were completely bruised! Applying more ice compresses and elevating it as much as possible helped reduce the swelling. I also kept applying the Deep Blue for pain and alternated between Helichrysum to speed healing and Lemongrass to assist in repairing any tissue. The results were great in just a few days!

I couldn't believe it! I thought for sure his entire foot would be black for weeks!

I must add that unfortunately he did not take a break from walking or working, yet still the results were astounding.

I did however finally convince my husband to go get an X-ray just to be sure there weren't any fractures, lo and behold his foot was in perfect health. Luckily it was just a bad contusion that we were able to treat at home. 

Just another reason I love being able to assist my family in all natural health alternatives without medical intervention unless absolutely necessary.

Another win for #DrMom!

You can purchase or find out more about these essential oils here.

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: Free Bag Giveaway!!

Hello my name is Erika, and I love essential oils.

My love of essential oils and how they've improved my life are no secret on this blog.

What do I love about essential oils?

• I love being able to provide safe and natural healing for my family, instead of relying on over the counter pharmaceuticals with ingredients I couldn't begin to pronounce let alone understand any long-term effects they may have.

• I love that they work with my family's body in healing whatever everyday (sometimes not-so-everyday) ailments they have, instead of introducing chemicals that are foreign to the body therefore creating other issues that need to be addressed.

• I love that essential oils has somewhat put a bit more control of this area of my life back into my hands, instead of the hands of people who profit more from my family's sickness than their  wellness.

There's nothing worse than having to rush your child to the doctor only to hear that it's some sort of virus and you will just have to sit idly by and wait it out while they suffer. Not anymore!

Don't get me wrong, I respect modern medicine and the contributions its made to society. However, not all issues are cause for prescription medication. I can't tell you how many times I have seen experiences with doctors who prescribe medication for a symptom (treating the symptom instead of the patient), which then causes a side effect that now requires another medication. Pretty soon you are taking three medications for that one initial ailment and it all snowballs out of control. No wonder we are a "script happy" nation with an insane addiction rate. Like everything in life I believe there is a balance, take care of what you can at home (like people have done for centuries) and save the medicine for the really serious stuff and respect the opinions of trained professionals.

Which brings me to my point! Yes I have one...

There are an arsenal of different oils I carry with me daily. Not just in my handy-dandy key chain that you can purchase here. I also carry oils for everyday battles like scraped knees, headaches, tummy aches, etc.. Up until now I've just been carrying it in an old cosmetic case or pencil case. I dropped the chic and went straight for shabby!

Enter Honeybees Boutiques! This awesome Etsy shop makes the cutest specialty essential oil bags that can hold up to eleven 15ml essential oil bottles! Color me happy (Fun fact: Etsy is my go-to for any custom items I need, or party planning ideas)! Both functional and stylish, I no longer have to worry about whipping out my worn ol' cosmetic case (may she R.I.P.) every time I need an oil. Who says "Crunchy" can't be cute?

Oil bags aren't the only items in the shop, there are a bunch of cute custom items for purchase.  Renee, the creative wonder behind this adorable shop was kind enough to host a giveaway! All you need to do to be eligible for the raffle is click on the link below, and Like our Essentially Erika Facebook Fan Page starting now! Click here to submit on your mobile app. You have until Sunday, September 28th. I will announce the winner on Monday, September 29th. Good Luck oil lovers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don't win no worries, I take care of all of my readers! Just visit Honeybees Boutique on Etsy and enter coupon code ESSENTIALOILS10 at checkout for 10% off!

For any info on Essential Oil Education Classes, please e-mail EssentiallyErika@gmail.com.

If you'd like to check out any of the essential oils pictured above, click here.

The Ultimate Mom's Night Out!

It's official... Mommy bloggers know how to par-tay!

I had the pleasure of joining my fellow mommy blogger and partner in crime Modern Boca Mom for some good ol' fashioned mommy fun at Mom Baby and Beyond's Ultimate Mom's Night Out!

Between meeting a ton of new vendors with awesome products, hanging with some new awesome blogger friends and raising money for an excellent cause, there was no shortage of fun at this first annual event.

I did what any reasonable mom would do when she's managed to break free from the nest for a few hours, I found the wine table!

Wines for Humanity is an awesome company that connects two of my favorite things, wine parties (duh) and raising money for charities!
Here's how it works, you host a wine tasting at your next party, everyone has a great time and learns about terrific wines and the proceeds go to a charity preventing homelessness. It doesn't get much better than that! There were quite a few "party" vendors who offered services for hosted parties, but I'd have to say this was one of my faves.

Everyone knows I'm pro "baby-wearing", I wrapped my youngest and never looked back! These wraps however are gorgeous! No reason you can't wrap and still be fashionable!

Dreamcatcher Wraps are beautiful! This non-stretchy fabric is imported from the Czech Republic and Germany. It's soft, durable and colorful! Plus it promotes something near and dear to my heart, Babywearing!

The Lil' Marc table stopped me dead in my tracks! It's as though the potty gods had poured their mercy upon me and offered up a solution to my potty troubles at home!

It isn't easy helping little guys learn to properly use the toilet, UNTIL NOW! This pint sized urinal is great party convo if nothing else! I couldn't wait to bring one home (yes I bought one, you would too!) and try it out with my two boys, they just love being able to go pee like daddy and now they can!

Our next stop on the blogger train was at the Nommerz table. These "treats without cheats" were dee-lish and perfect because this mommy was starving!

I'm convinced it's the only reason I survived the rest of the night! Their protein bites and bars are all natural, organic, gluten and dairy free. Right up my alley!

After that yummy treat I had to hit the Keurig coffee bar (yes, I said coffee bar. They thought of everything!), I've heard so much about this new Keurig model 2.0. I needed to get a look for myself! So okay, when I first heard of Keurig I thought it was a total waste of time and money. What's the sense of buying a coffee maker that only brews a cup at a time, I would have to keep the coffee maker I already have for holidays and parties. Not anymore, the 2.0 model comes with cup sized serving and now carafe sized serving as well! NOW, they have my attention! I've been going back and forth with the hubster on whether this is right for us, I'm so glad I was able to try it out because it is most definitely for us!





Look who I ran into at the coffee bar! My good friend and fellow blogger Lindsay from You Are The Roots!

There is a wonderful sense of comraderie between bloggers, no shortage of that at this event. It was a pleasure meeting some new ladies all with such diverse contributions to the blogging world.

We all gathered at the awesome Insta Cam  booth! Here I am posing with some of my new friends; Newsy Parents, April Go Lightly and Susy Pops! Can we talk for a minute about her cake pops? They were so popular this blogger couldn't get a taste! A room full of pregnant women and hungry mommies cleared her gorgeous cake stand in minutes!

Time for a little pampering!

The ladies at Jamberry were happy to take care of that! These nail decals were adorable and super easy to apply! This was definitely one of the popular tables!

I happened to fall in in love with the Budsies table...

A company that brings your child's artwork to life in the form of stuffed animals! This idea is genius! 

Providing thoughtful gifts while fostering a child's creativity, win / win!

This crunchy mama couldn't help but be drawn to the beautiful setup at the Jolie Bloom table (her gorgeous hair stopped me dead in my tracks honestly), everything smelled great!

I can't wait to try some of her products, her blog is adorable you guys should definitely check that out too!

Overall it was a great evening filled with fun, laughter and tons of prizes. There was a great raffle with some pretty cool products and the proceeds went to a great cause. The real reason we all joined together, for more awesome Turtle Power for James! The Coral Springs community as well as surrounding communities have really come together for this local family, it was truly an honor to be a part of this awesome event. Anything that brings people together in the name of compassion and kindness makes this hippie heart beat just a little bit faster. There is already rumor of #UMNO15 with Mom, Baby & Beyond, I can't wait!

Besides...

Us mommy bloggers really know how to have fun!

Essentially Yours,

Erika