Be Green, Be Grateful, Be Genuine!

I was lucky enough to discover gDiapers four years ago when I had my son. When he was first born we used a big name brand diaper, I remember how much I hated changing his diaper to find those little gel crystals on his little bottom and boy parts.   I had looked into using cloth diapers, however living in an apartment it simply wasn’t cost effective.   I began searching the internet, there HAD to be another option.  That is when I found gDiapers, it was a disposable option, but also had cloth qualities. Flushable inserts that you have the option of flushing or even composting (just the wet ones please), and the ability to use cloth instead.  I ordered a starter pack and began stalking our mailman. 

When the diapers came I was so excited to strap them on to his little booty!  They were oh so cute, his little Grasshopper Green booty, complete with a g on the back, for Gabriel of course.  I soon realized the extra perks.  Only a few minutes in to our g-experience he had a blowout worthy number 2, one that would have warranted a wardrobe change in his previous diapers. I was perplexed, I HEARD it, but where was it?  It’s wasn’t leaking out the legs, it hadn’t gone up his back... I tentatively poked my finger into the waist band to confirm, yup, it was there, all in there, where it is supposed to be!  Amazing!  Then the diaper change came, that remarkably disgusting number two didn’t have to hang out in the nursery till trash day!   I simply took the flushable insert into the bathroom and ripped it, “swished” it, and flushed it.  It was gone!  No stinky ick in our apartment!  Over the next few weeks and months I appreciated our gDiapers more, for things like the Velcro being in the back, once I got used to it, it was much easier than the front Velcro, but way more difficult for his wandering hands to reach, no “look ma!  No diaper” moments for us!  Then when we were in a situation to not have to save quarter for laundry, we quickly figured out how to use prefolds inside our gPants while we were home, saving our flushies for outings.  It was clean, pure, simple and green, not chemicals on my little ones skin either!

Fast forward four years.  Number two (no not that kind), is about to make her appearance to the world.  I had began a small stash of cloth diapers, but I knew I want to use gDiapers again as well.  Right before we got pregnant with number two, gDiapers released their newest addition: tiny gPants, and oh man, were they CUTE!  A few changes from previous gPants, the liner didn’t snap in, it was built in.  I had to have them.  I had to buy them off a mom, who was no longer using hers because there was quite a large demand for them and they had been put on backorder.  Again I stalked our mail carrier.  I ordered flushies and was ready to go when they came, all of those tiny gPants were stuffed and waiting when Cordelia came home.  I really loved the tiny g’s, they had the features I loved about the regular little g’s, and then some.  I loved that they snapped down in the front to make room for her cord stump, it kept the diapers from rubbing on it and making it bleed.   The built in liner was also great, easy to clean.  I can’t lie I also love the cute “g word” print, not girly, not boyish (I am a mom that feels like anything that isn’t pink is too boyish too) just plain… well… baby! 

Another thing the wonderful folks at gDiapers have come out with since my son was in them, gCloth.  It is the companies very own version of our prefolds.  I found that while using prefolds in our gPants saved us money, it made the diapers bulky.  This time around we have gCloth as an option,   made with microfleece to pull the moisture away from your baby and a hemp/cotton fabric to absorb the moisture.  The microfleece is super soft on baby’s skin.  Also new to the gFamily are gStyles, oh so adorable gDiaper outfits!  One for girls and one for boys, and too cute for words!  This mama has been drooling over the gDarling dress set…  A truly picture worthy outfit!

I love gDiapers, not just the product, but the company.  I can’t speak highly enough of the people at gDiapers headquarters.  I have never had an unfriendly, below wonderful experience with them.  As a mom, and consumer that is a big deal to me.  If I do not have a good customer service experience, I simply find a way to live without your product (I drive an extra half hour to go to a theater other than Regal just because of a terrible experience).  I will tell you one thing, they are not lacking in that department.  They have someone that can answer any question or problem you might have, they stand by their product %110 percent, and because of that so do many of the parents that use gDiapers.   

I also appreciate that they are very environmentally friendly, not just the product, but down to shipping, using Green Shipping (see Greenshipping.com).  Possibly my favorite thing about this company (and trust me it is impossible for me to pick one but this is up there), is the value they place in family “We have an on-site child development center. If mom needs to nurse or wants some playtime with her baby, gDiapers is set up to accommodate her needs. If a child is sick, by all means, go home. We hope everyone feels better soon. If dad wants to see Jr. in the school talent show in the middle of the day, he has our blessing. In fact, we may come with him. “ if that doesn’t sum it up, then I don’t know what does!  If only I could talk my husband into moving to Portland…

I know that sometimes we post snippets (yeah I said snippets) from the company’s website, but I want you to go check it out www.gdiapers.com, I will give you a quiz on it later… Kind of… 
No blog is complete without a picture or two… I want to share mine.  

Baby Bunny hanging out in her Tiny g

Lets kick it old school with Gabe back in the day sporting his green gDiaper, and baby love handles.  (This picture was actually used for a Kiddie Kandids ad campaign. Just to throw out a mom brag)

I feel really lucky that I came across this product, and this company.  Now I want YOU to get to know them!  I contacted Michelle at gHeadquarters and they have been generous enough to donate a New Baby Bundle to one lucky reader!  One VERY lucky reader!  I am actually jealous of whoever wins this, and my baby can’t even fit in them!

So let’s get down to it shall we? Time for the Quiz!


Mandatory Entry:
Go to www.gdiapers.com tell us what you like.  What product, what philosophy, feature, anything, because gDiapers isn’t just about what they are selling.
 
For extra entries:
Become a follower of this blog on Google Friend Connect and/or RSS feed - one entry
Become a fan of The Mad Mom Blog on Facebook - one entry
Become a fan of gDiapers on Facebook (make sure to come back here and tell us)- one entry Post a link to this contest on your Facebook or Twitter (one entry per day and make sure to post a link here)


**Contest ends Friday, August 20th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize from the time the announcement is made.

Febreze Home Collections Review

As a mother of a soon-to-be two year old, I can't leave fresh smelling potpourri out - either the baby or the cats will eat it. Candle wax on the carpet, candle wax on the couch. It's a real pain to get out! The Febreze Home Collection wants to introduce you to their no mess, no spill line-up that’s perfect for creating a refreshing atmosphere.    The newest addition to the Febreze Home Collection, the No-Spill Wood Diffuser, combines everything you love about WoodWick diffuser technology and Febreze scents, offering a unique fragrance experience. The scented oil is drawn up through the dowel into the wood top, creating a hassle-free way to freshen your home. I keep this one in my bedroom because it adds a nice touch of classy decor and smells relaxing! If you’re looking to add character to your décor, then the Febreze Flameless Luminary is for you! The Febreze Flameless Luminary has interchangeable shade styles and the refreshing atmosphere of a burning candle without the danger of a flame. For a limited time, you can fill your home with the newest scent, Honeysuckle Orchid. I was so impressed when I turned it on. It really gave a relaxing candle-like glow. I actually fooled some of my friends who thought it was a candle! The scents last for about a week. You know how you get used to a scent though. My friends said "it smells good in here" after a couple weeks. **Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information and gift card to give away were all sponsored by Febreze and MyBlogSpark

The One Where I Just Let it All Out

I've been dealing with a lot lately and have pretty much alienated everyone in my life because of my self-dubbed "bag of shit." I feel I owe my awesome followers some explanation, too, as to why my posts have been so sparse the past few months. And well if you can't tell your blog, who can you tell? So, here goes...

This has all been going on for a while now. Pretty much since my son was born (about 20 months ago). I had been acting like a completely different person with a new "this is who I am and if you don't like it then eff off" attitude. Which is totally not me. I am, and always have been, a people-pleaser. Pressures of motherhood and being an adult mounted so high that I literally collapsed. The first signs that this was about to get ugly were the several weekends in a row that I went out with my friends, left hubby and baby at home, and stayed out till five in the morning. What 26 year old married mother needs to do that more than once in a blue moon?

My husband works hard. He leaves before six in the morning and doesn't get home until 8 at night. Meanwhile, I'm home taking care of the baby, finances, etc. It just got to be so much that I would literally go out and explode on the weekends. I'd escape for those hours before I had to get back to reality.

Then my epiphany came. I woke up one morning and figured it out. I knew I wasn't happy, but just couldn't figure out why. So I did what any woman does, blame the man. Yeah, there were some issues there that needed working out but I soon learned that placing the blame on other people wasn't going to stop my own tragic downfall.

Initially, I thought I was sick of doing what everyone else expected me to do. I have always been the girl that does things the right way and does everything other people think I should do. So, I stopped. I did what I wanted. I made bad choices. I was lying. Lying to everyone I love because I couldn't face the harsh realities and consequences of what I'd done. I knew I was being deceitful. I knew I was acting foolish. I just couldn't accept it enough to tell the people that I love. The people I don't want to disappoint. Well that just got me in deeper. I think I was subconsciously looking for an easy way out of all the responsibility I've created. Now I have this black hole of oblivion and I don't know how I'm going to get out.

First, I started with my family. I have a wonderful husband who has actually stuck through this whole "finding myself" thing. I can't throw that away. He's loving and understanding, and I don't think I could find someone better for me. During this whole ordeal I've been so worried about our families and friends hating me because of the nasty things I said to my husband that came out of anger and ugly emotions.

I feel like I lied to my friends because I just couldn't handle that yet. I couldn't handle everyone in my life despising me. Those lies made it worse. Instead of them being upset with my actions alone, my friends are upset with my lies, my deceit.

Who is this person? How did I become this? I'm a strong, independent, intelligent, motivated woman. How did I start making such terrible decisions? People kept asking me about postpartum depression. I honestly couldn't tell. I have had so much going on that I didn't think it could possibly be just chalked up to postpartum. My husband lost his job right after Josh was born, I finished college, changed jobs, typical financial woes, etc. Reflecting on the grand scheme of things, I really do think it's postpartum depression. There's just no other logical explanation. I've felt like I have this renewed self confidence since I had the baby and devoting many of those feelings to what I've accomplished in the past several years. My unhappiness was blamed on my stressors. The people you love the most are always going to be the ones who stress you the most. It's because you invest so many emotions in them and their happiness.

So, I've taken the first step. I'm seeking help. I have burned some very important bridges and just hope that one day, we can all move past this.I'm making the right decisions now. I'm sorry for my mistakes and I realize the consequences.